TURIN (Reuters) -Tesla Inc CEO Elon Musk said on Friday that thanks to new semiconductor plants that are planned or under construction, the global chip shortage that has pummelled the car industry this year should be short term in nature.

Musk replied that he thinks the worldwide chip shortage will have a short-term impact on vehicle production.

Musk spoke at Italian Tech Week in a joint session with John Elkann and Stellantis (NYSE:) Chairman John Elkann.

He said, “I believe we will be able to provide chips next year.”

Two leaders in the automotive industry agreed to support nuclear power for meeting rising global energy demands.

Musk stated, “I was surprised at a recent departure of certain countries from nuclear energy. This is safe.”

They avoided discussing competition between Tesla (NASDAQ;) and other top-tier electric mobility companies. However, they did not mention the legacy automakers investing large to increase their range of electrified cars.

Musk, however, thanked Elkann in return for all the help he received between 2017 to 2019 from Comau. The robot unit at Fiat Chrysler that is now part of Stellantis was instrumental in what he described as “one of most difficult periods” of his business, linking to the production of Model 3.

Musk stated that John helped him a lot during that time, and added that Tesla was close to going bankrupt “half a dozen” times.

Carlos Tavares is the Chief Executive Officer of Stellantis. He stated the new group was created through the merger between Fiat Chrysler, France’s PSA, and that it expected to meet its European carbon dioxide emission goals this year, without Tesla credit.