Tesla Eyes Supply Partners for Optimus Mass Production
Three existing EV component suppliers were certified for mass production during a robotics team audit in Ningbo, China.
Tesla’s robotics team has moved three component manufacturers from provisional status to certified mass production partners for its Optimus humanoid robot, following a supplier audit in China.
What Happened
According to a Bloomberg report cited by RobotAIGeek, Tesla’s robotics team traveled to Ningbo, in China’s Zhejiang province, on September 16 to audit component suppliers. The visit resulted in the certification of Tuopu Group, Ningbo Joyson Electronic, and Zhejiang Sanhua Intelligent Controls. Tuopu handles actuators and chassis components, Joyson supplies sensors, and Sanhua builds thermal management systems. All three companies already supply parts for Tesla’s electric vehicles. Supply chain reports indicate the audit came with fresh orders for an initial batch of roughly 5,000 units.
Why It Matters
The certification of established automotive suppliers leverages existing manufacturing bases where tolerances and volume requirements align with the demands of mass-produced humanoid robots. Sanhua, for instance, reportedly received a $685 million order for linear actuators in October of last year, a volume estimated to cover around 180,000 robots. This development supports Tesla’s near-term production goals, which supply chain reports place at approximately 1,000 Optimus units per week by late September, rising to 2,000 to 2,500 units per week by the end of the year. This pace aligns with the conversion of Fremont’s Model S and X production space into a dedicated Optimus line targeting one million units annually.
The Bottom Line
While commercial sales of Optimus are targeted for the second half of 2027, production is expected to begin well before then. A second, larger facility at Gigafactory Texas is under construction to support up to 10 million units a year, though volume output there is not expected before 2027. The Ningbo audits were described by Bloomberg Intelligence analyst Ian Ma as a positive commercialization signal for China’s humanoid supply chain.
