Tesla Inspects Chinese Supply Chain for Optimus... 'Signal of Approaching Humanoid Mass Production'

Amid projections that a "second EV war" could break out over the humanoid industry, reports indicate that Tesla's robot team is conducting on-site inspections of supply chain companies in China.

Chinese media outlet The Paper reported on the 21st (local time), citing industry sources, that Tesla's robot team began inspections last week of partner companies making joint modules, actuators, and precision structural parts, including Tuopu Group.

A source stated, "These companies had already received orders related to Tesla humanoids prior to this inspection," adding, "The inspections will evaluate the quality and regulatory compliance of the relevant production lines, and production will begin very soon after passing the inspections."

The source further explained that the inspection targets include companies located not only in Zhejiang Province's Ningbo, as recently reported, but also in the Yangtze River Delta region such as Hangzhou and Shanghai, and that most of the target companies have previously supplied parts for Tesla electric vehicles.

Given projections that Tesla will produce thousands of humanoids this year, The Paper evaluated that this inspection is a sign that Tesla has moved a step closer to the mass production of humanoids.

It added that the model entering mass production this time is Tesla's third-generation humanoid and its first mass-produced model, with a long-term production cost target of 20,000 to 30,000 dollars (approx. 27.5 million to 41.25 million won).

It also noted that Tuopu Group's joint actuators and robot hands have already been supplied to Chinese humanoid companies such as Agibot and Unitree, and that many of Tesla's EV sector partners have long been engaged in humanoid-related businesses as well.

Previously, Hong Kong media outlet South China Morning Post (SCMP) also reported similar news on the 18th.

At the time, sources stated that the inspections took place as Tesla plans to order additional parts ahead of the upcoming commencement of Optimus production at its Fremont plant in California.

Chinese partner companies are reportedly bound by non-disclosure agreements with Tesla, and Tesla China declined to comment on SCMP's request for comment.

Tesla announced in January that it is transitioning from an electric vehicle company to a physical artificial intelligence (AI) company, and CEO Elon Musk stated at the time that he would halt Model S and Model X EV production at the Fremont plant to focus on robots.

CEO Musk predicted in December of last year that Tesla and Chinese companies will dominate the global robot market in the future, and Wang Hao, Tesla's Greater China General Manager, mentioned last April the possibility that the Shanghai Gigafactory could be used for humanoid production in the future.

Chen Jinzhu, CEO of consulting firm Shanghai Mingliang Auto Service, said, "This inspection shows that Chinese partner companies are an important part of the Optimus supply chain," adding, "The inspected companies hold advantages in cost and technology over their competitors both inside and outside China."
 
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※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.