# Who does Tesla pay? Who are its key suppliers?
Canonical: https://valuechain.wiki/tesla · Facet: suppliers · Updated: 2026-09-24T12:56:02.382043+00:00 · Source: ValueChain.wiki (cited money-flow graph)

**Citable summary**: Tesla's confirmed suppliers/cost counterparties include 파나소닉 에너지, BYD, LG에너지솔루션 plus 12 undisclosed/aggregate relationships. Per the valuechain.wiki graph: 15 cost edges, backed by 17 dated sources, 1 of them primary filings (as of 2026-09-24).

### 파나소닉 에너지 (high)  → /panasonic-energy.md
- metric: capacity 41 GWh · 네바다 · Nevada 2170 cell supply
- note: Long-standing core battery supplier; Tesla buys 2170 cylindrical cells from Nevada and Kansas.
- [confirms] SNE Research (EN, research, published 2026-01-06) https://www.sneresearch.com/en/insight/release_view/567/page/0: "Panasonic mainly supplies Tesla and ranked 7th at 38.5GWh usage."
- [confirms] Panasonic North America (EN, ir, published 2025-07-14) https://na.panasonic.com/news/panasonic-energy-begins-mass-production-at-new-automotive-lithium-ion-battery-factory-in-kansas-aiming-for-annual-capacity-of-32-gwh-to-accelerate-us-local-production: "the Nevada Factory ... approximately 41 GWh"
- [confirms] Electrek (EN, news, published 2024-01-15) https://electrek.co/2024/01/15/panasonic-to-soon-make-new-batteries-for-tesla-could-reduce-ev-prices-report/: "2170 cells used in Tesla Model 3 and Model Y at the plant in Nevada"

### BYD (high)  → /byd.md
- metric: capacity 8 GWh/yr · 2025~ · FinDreams ESS LFP cell supply
- note: Sources LFP ESS cells (up to 8 GWh/yr) from BYD's FinDreams unit for the Shanghai Megafactory.
- [confirms] CnEVPost (EN, news, published 2024-06-05) https://cnevpost.com/2024/06/05/byd-findreams-to-supply-battery-cells-to-tesla-megafactory/: "up to 8 GWh from FinDreams"

### LG에너지솔루션 (high)  → /lg-energy-solution.md
- metric: Contract value $4.3B · 2027~2030 · LFP ESS cell supply (Megapack 3)
- note: Supplies LFP prismatic ESS cells for Megapack 3 ($4.3B, 2027–2030) and 2170 cylindrical cells.
- [confirms] Electrek (EN, news, published 2026-03-17) https://electrek.co/2026/03/17/tesla-lg-energy-solution-4-3-billion-lfp-battery-deal-megapack-confirmed/: "LG produce LFP prismatic cells at its Lansing, Michigan factory starting in 2027"
- [confirms] SNE Research (EN, research, published 2026-01-06) https://www.sneresearch.com/en/insight/release_view/567/page/0: "Tesla's use of LGES batteries fell 8.2% YoY on a Tesla sales slowdown."

### Harmonic Drive (high)  → /harmonic-drive.md
- note: Sources Harmonic Drive harmonic reducers for Optimus joints.
- [confirms] eWeek (EN, news, published 2026-01-01) https://www.eweek.com/robotics/tesla-optimus-robot-launch-timeline/: "Sources harmonic reducers from Harmonic Drive for Optimus joints."
- [confirms] Humanoid Guide (EN, research, published 2026-01-01) https://humanoid.guide/product/optimus/: "Sources harmonic reducers from Harmonic Drive for Optimus joints."
- [confirms] Tesla (EN, filing, published 2025-10-22) https://ir.tesla.com/: "Tesla 10-K/IR: Optimus component sourcing and production plan."
- [confirms] Morgan Stanley (EN, research, published 2025-01-01) https://advisor.morganstanley.com/john.howard/documents/field/j/jo/john-howard/The_Humanoid_100_-_Mapping_the_Humanoid_Robot_Value_Chain.pdf: "Lists Harmonic Drive among precision actuator/reducer suppliers in the humanoid value chain."

### CATL (high)  → /catl.md
- note: Sources EV and robot batteries from CATL.
- [confirms] CnEVPost (EN, news, published 2026-02-04) https://cnevpost.com/2026/02/04/global-ev-battery-market-share-2025/: "Sources EV and robot batteries from CATL."
- [confirms] SNE Research (EN, research, published 2026-01-06) https://www.sneresearch.com/en/insight/release_view/567/page/0: "Global OEMs including Tesla have adopted CATL batteries."

### 삼성SDI (mid)  → /samsung-sdi.md
- metric: deal value $2.1B · 2026~ · ESS LFP cell supply (media report)
- note: Reported to supply ~$2.1B of LFP ESS cells for Megapack/Powerwall (from ~2026, Kokomo).
- [confirms] KED Global (EN, news, published 2025-11-03) https://www.kedglobal.com/batteries/newsView/ked202511030005: "ESS estimated at over 3 trillion won ($2.1 billion)"

### Albemarle (mid)  → /albemarle.md
- metric: Amount 1.2 USD10억 · 다년 공급계약 · Tesla lithium supply agreement (reported)
- note: Tesla sources battery lithium from Albemarle (a reported supply deal worth about $1.2 billion).
- [confirms] MineListings (EN, news, published 2026-04-12) https://minelistings.com/news/teslas-1-2-billion-lithium-supply-deal-with-albemarle-sparks-market-excitement/: "Tesla secured an about $1.2 billion lithium supply deal with Albemarle."

### Nidec (mid)  → /nidec.md
- note: Sources Nidec motors and actuators for Optimus joints.
- [confirms] eWeek (EN, news, published 2026-01-01) https://www.eweek.com/robotics/tesla-optimus-robot-launch-timeline/: "Sources motors and actuators from Nidec for Optimus joints."
- [confirms] Humanoid Guide (EN, research, published 2026-01-01) https://humanoid.guide/product/optimus/: "Sources motors and actuators from Nidec for Optimus joints."
- [confirms] Morgan Stanley (EN, research, published 2025-01-01) https://advisor.morganstanley.com/john.howard/documents/field/j/jo/john-howard/The_Humanoid_100_-_Mapping_the_Humanoid_Robot_Value_Chain.pdf: "Lists Nidec among actuator/motor suppliers in the humanoid value chain."

### Nabtesco (mid)  → /nabtesco.md
- note: Sources Nabtesco RV reducers for Optimus joints.
- [confirms] eWeek (EN, news, published 2026-01-01) https://www.eweek.com/robotics/tesla-optimus-robot-launch-timeline/: "Sources RV reducers from Nabtesco for Optimus joints."
- [confirms] Humanoid Guide (EN, research, published 2026-01-01) https://humanoid.guide/product/optimus/: "Sources RV reducers from Nabtesco for Optimus joints."
- [confirms] Morgan Stanley (EN, research, published 2025-01-01) https://advisor.morganstanley.com/john.howard/documents/field/j/jo/john-howard/The_Humanoid_100_-_Mapping_the_Humanoid_Robot_Value_Chain.pdf: "Names Nabtesco among humanoid reducer suppliers."

### NVIDIA (mid)  → /nvidia.md
- note: Uses NVIDIA GPUs for AI training and some inference (beyond Dojo).
- [confirms] Humanoid Guide (EN, research, published 2026-01-01) https://humanoid.guide/product/optimus/: "Uses NVIDIA GPUs for AI training and some inference (beyond Dojo)."

### 삼성전자 (mid)  → /samsung-electronics.md
- note: Sources FSD/infotainment chips and displays from Samsung.
- [confirms] Tesla (EN, filing, published 2025-10-22) https://ir.tesla.com/: "Tesla FSD chips at Samsung foundry."
- [confirms] Isaiah Research (EN, research, published 2025-08-07) https://www.isaiahresearch.com/Insight/Detail/103: "Tesla's $16.5B Samsung Foundry deal for AI6 chips at the Taylor, Texas 2nm fab."

### Ganfeng Lithium (mid)  → /ganfeng.md
- note: Tesla has sourced battery-grade lithium hydroxide from Ganfeng Lithium, under a 2022-2024 three-year contract following a 2018-2020 deal.
- [confirms] MINING.COM (EN, news, published 2021-11-01) https://www.mining.com/ganfeng-lithium-lands-fresh-three-year-supply-deal-with-tesla/: "Tesla agreed to source battery-grade lithium hydroxide from Ganfeng over 2022-2024."

### Analog Devices (mid)  → /analog-devices.md
- note: Two ADI audio processors are inside Tesla's FSD Computer HW4.0 (teardown). ADI's flagship automotive BMS win is GM (non-node); the Tesla content is FSD audio.
- [confirms] TechInsights (EN, research, published 2023-07-01) https://www.techinsights.com/products/ddt-2307-807: "Teardown of the Tesla FSD Computer HW4.0 identifies two ADI audio processors."

### 화낙 (mid)  → /fanuc.md
- note: Supplies robots for Tesla's Fremont lines: ~600 FANUC robots before the Model 3 ramp (confirmed by FANUC America), deployed alongside KUKA on ~1,000-robot lines (values undisclosed).
- [confirms] ZDNet Korea (KO, news, published 2021-04-30) https://zdnet.co.kr/view/?no=20210430151803: "Tesla built ~1,000-robot automation lines at Fremont using KUKA and FANUC products."
- [confirms] Electrek (EN, news, published 2016-09-01) https://electrek.co/2016/09/01/tesla-model-3-robot-supplier-bring-up-production-line-time/: "FANUC, Tesla's main robot supplier for the Model 3 line, adds to ~600 robots already deployed at Fremont."

### 배터리·소재 (비공개) (low)
- note: Batteries, cells and materials.
- [confirms] Tesla (EN, filing, published 2025-10-22) https://ir.tesla.com/: "Batteries for EVs and robots."

Reverse side: https://valuechain.wiki/tesla/customers.md · Ripple: https://valuechain.wiki/tesla/ripple.md

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