Tesla Model 3 control computers will reportedly be built by Pegatron Technology, says report

As Tesla is getting closer to bringing the Model 3 to production, we are learning of more contracts from suppliers. Earlier this week, we reported on an Austrian company announcing that they secured an order of high-power cables for the Model 3.

Now we learn of Pegatron Technology reportedly landing an order of control computers for the Model 3.

Digitimes, a newspaper tracking the electronic industry in Taiwan and the Greater China region, released a report based on “sources from the upstream supply chain” claiming that Pegatron Technology, a Taiwan-based electronics manufacturing company, will manufacture control computers for Tesla’s Model 3.

While there’s a main computer powering Tesla’s MCU in its vehicles, and now a separate one to power the Enhanced Autopilot, there are also several other less powerful computers powering specific electronic features in the vehicles. Digitimes reports:

“The sources pointed out that Tesla used to manufacture its control computer in house and only procure motherboards from outside makers. However, since the company’s Model 3 is seeing much stronger demand, Tesla has decided to also outsource the control computer’s assembly.

Tesla originally outsourced its car-use motherboard orders mainly to Foxconn Electronics (Hon Hai Precision Industry) and Jabil, but has shifted its orders from Foxconn to Quanta and Pegatron, after Foxconn turned to cooperate with China-based players to develop electric vehicles (EV).”

Quanta, another Taiwan-based manufacturer, will reportedly still supply motherboards to Tesla for the Model 3. Both Quanta and Pegatron declined to comment on the report.

Tesla has long been doing business with Taiwanese companies as part of its supply chain, but it also recently entered the market. Tesla delivered the first batch of vehicles and opened its first Supercharger in Taiwan in January 2017.

As for the Model 3, Tesla still plans to bring the vehicle to production in July. The company reported that they are seeing strong interest from suppliers since they are requesting significant volumes. The California-based automaker says that it plans to order enough parts to build 5,000 vehicles per week in September 2017.