Tesla Taps 18-Year Intel Veteran Gary Jiang to Lead Texas Terafab Chip Project
TSLA•Tesla has hired Gary Jiang, an 18-year Intel manufacturing veteran, as director of its Terafab chip project in Austin, Texas. This marks the first publicly identified senior leadership appointment for Elon Musk’s in-house semiconductor manufacturing initiative, potentially accelerating Tesla’s vertical integration and chip production timelines.
1. Appointment Details
Tesla has appointed Gary Jiang as director of its Terafab chip project in Austin, Texas, marking the first publicly identified senior leadership hire for the company’s semiconductor manufacturing effort. The move underscores Tesla’s commitment to building an in-house fabrication capability under Elon Musk’s strategic drive for vertical integration.
2. Jiang’s Background
Jiang brings nearly 18 years of experience from Intel, where he played leading roles in ramping advanced process nodes including 10nm, 7nm and the upcoming 18A technology. His expertise spans wafer fabrication, process optimization and yield enhancement across multiple global foundries.
3. Project Context and Implications
The Texas Terafab project aims to produce proprietary chips for Tesla’s electric vehicles and AI applications, reducing reliance on external foundries. Jiang’s leadership could accelerate facility build-out, equipment commissioning and production ramp, supporting Tesla’s broader goal of customized semiconductor solutions.




