Intel has a plan to take on TSMC in 2027. First, it has to survive 2026

Intel has made chip manufacturing the center of its turnaround under CEO Lip-Bu Tan, shifting focus back to its foundry business.

Tan says 18A yields are improving and Intel is starting to attract interest from customers such as Tesla, Google, and possibly Apple.

The next big test is 14A, which Intel hopes will be competitive with TSMC by 2027.

Before that, Intel must get through 2026 with stable production and better economics to prove the strategy can work commercially.