Tesla Eyes Supply Partners for Optimus Mass Production
Audit of Chinese suppliers moves three manufacturers to certified status with an initial order of roughly 5,000 units.
Tesla’s robotics team has moved three component manufacturers from provisional status to certified mass production partners following an audit in Ningbo, China, signaling a significant step toward scaling up production of the Optimus humanoid robot.
What Happened
According to a Bloomberg report cited by RobotAIGeek, Tesla’s team traveled to Zhejiang province on September 16 to audit suppliers for the Optimus program. The visit resulted in the certification of Tuopu Group, which provides actuators and chassis components; Ningbo Joyson Electronic, a sensor supplier; and Zhejiang Sanhua Intelligent Controls, which manufactures 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 approximately 5,000 units.
Why It Matters
The certification of established automotive suppliers leverages existing manufacturing bases that already meet the high-volume tolerance requirements necessary for humanoid robots. Sanhua, for instance, previously received a $685 million order for linear actuators, a volume estimated to cover around 180,000 robots. Tesla’s near-term production goal is reportedly about 1,000 Optimus units per week by late September, aiming to rise to 2,000–2,500 units per week by year-end. This pace aligns with the conversion of the Fremont factory, which was repurposed from Model S and Model X production to a dedicated Optimus line targeting one million units annually. A second, larger facility at Gigafactory Texas, intended to support up to 10 million units a year, is under construction but is not expected to produce volume output before 2027.
The Bottom Line
While commercial sales of Optimus are targeted for the second half of 2027, Tesla is accelerating its supply chain readiness. Bloomberg Intelligence analyst Ian Ma described the Ningbo audits as a positive signal for the humanoid robotics supply chain, noting that sentiment could improve further with confirmed nominations and larger orders. Meanwhile, early units are expected to begin collecting training data in Tesla’s own facilities later this year via the "Optimus Academy" program.
