Tesla has announced that it has postponed the mass production of its AI5 chip, which is expected to revolutionize autonomous driving technology. CEO Elon Musk has stated emphatically that the next-generation AI-based computer will only reach sufficient production volumes by mid-2027.

Tesla Postpones New Chip

This development represents a significant change in Tesla’s product roadmap. The Cybercab, previously scheduled to hit the roads in 2026, will be launched with the AI4 hardware used in vehicles since 2024, rather than the AI5 hardware. This means the Cybercab will not initially offer the fully autonomous driving capability that was announced.

When Musk unveiled the AI5 chip, then known as Hardware 5 (HW5), in 2024, he stated that it would be 10 times more powerful than AI4 and that vehicle implementation would begin in the second half of 2025. Musk’s latest statement suggests that this timeline has been pushed back by approximately two years.

The CEO stated that “hundreds of thousands of completed AI5 boards are needed” to ensure the AI5 enters mass production and is ready in sufficient quantities for a vehicle launch. It is known that the AI4 does not support fully autonomous driving.

Therefore, it is clear that the Cybercab, designed as a robotaxi, will launch in 2026 with this hardware, but the custom-designed vehicle will lack fully autonomous capabilities. The company has not yet announced whether it will also postpone the Cybercab launch due to the chip delay.

Musk added that early samples of the AI5 may be available, but that mass production volumes will not support a large vehicle launch.