Tesla Shanghai factory could unlock mass production of humanoid robots, executive says

Tesla leader believes Shanghai factory operations will play a role in robot mass production

SHANGHAI (AP) -- A Tesla Inc. leader said Tuesday he believes its Shanghai factory operations will help resolve the challenges in achieving mass production of the company's humanoid robots as the U.S. electric vehicle giant pivots to robotics. Wang Hao, Tesla's vice president, said the Shanghai facilities, like other Tesla factories, will contribute after the company enters an era of robots. Wang, who also serves as president of Tesla China, told reporters on a government-organized tour of one of its Shanghai factories that CEO Elon Musk once noted having production at scale is a critical challenge in manufacturing humanoid robots. Wang said he believes the Shanghai manufacturing arm "is a golden key to solving this challenge," but did not specify how the operation will support the company's robotic business. Musk has urged investors to focus less on car sales and more on what he considers a bright artificial intelligence future of robotaxis ferrying millions in cars without drivers, or even steering wheels, and robots watering plants and taking care of elderly parents. Musk earlier underlined that shift by announcing Tesla had decided to end production of two older car models, S and X, in the second quarter and convert a Fremont, California, factory to instead produce its Optimus robots. London-based technology research and advisory group Omdia said Tesla shipped fewer than 500 general-purpose embodied, intelligent robots in 2025. Still, the company is among the vendors that showcased industry-leading advancements in AI capabilities, its report said. Tesla entered the mainland Chinese market in 2013 and the factory Wang spoke at delivered the company's first made-in-China vehicles in late 2019. The factory delivered 851,000 electric vehicles in 2025, accounting for more than half of Tesla's total global deliveries that year. A separate factory began production in Shanghai in 2025, marking the firm's launch of commercial energy storage manufacturing in China. ___ Leung reported from Hong Kong. Video producer Olivia Zhang contributed to this report.

Tesla Shanghai factory could crack humanoid robot production at scale

Speaking during a government-organized tour of the facility on Tuesday, Allan Wang Hao, a senior Tesla executive, highlighted the importance of scaling production, widely seen as one of the biggest hurdles in humanoid robotics. According to Hao, the Shanghai manufacturing base could become a critical enabler in overcoming this challenge. "Like other Tesla factories, Giga Shanghai can shoulder important responsibilities in manufacturing all new products, including robots, to make our contributions to the company," he said. Hao added that the Shanghai facility could serve as "a golden key to solving this challenge," though no specific details were provided on how the plant would support robot production. Tesla has increasingly signaled a strategic shift away from its core automotive business toward AI-driven technologies, including humanoid robots and robotaxis. Musk has urged investors to focus less on car sales and more on what he sees as a future driven by autonomous systems and robotics. The CEO has previously described scenarios in which robots could perform everyday tasks, such as assisting in households or caring for the elderly, underscoring the company's broader ambitions in embodied AI.

Tesla leader believes Shanghai factory operations will play role in robot mass production - The Economic Times

Wang Hao, Tesla's vice president, said the Shanghai facilities, like other Tesla factories, will contribute after the company enters an era of robots.A Tesla Inc. leader said Tuesday he believes its Shanghai factory operations will help resolve the challenges in achieving mass production of the company's humanoid robots as the US electric vehicle giant pivots to robotics. Wang Hao, Tesla's vice president, said the Shanghai facilities, like other Tesla factories, will contribute after the company enters an era of robots. Wang, who also serves as president of Tesla China, told reporters on a government-organised tour of one of its Shanghai factories that CEO Elon Musk once noted having production at scale is a critical challenge in manufacturing humanoid robots. Wang said he believes the Shanghai manufacturing arm "is a golden key to solving this challenge," but did not specify how the operation will support the company's robotic business. Musk has urged investors to focus less on car sales and more on what he considers a bright artificial intelligence future of robotaxis ferrying millions in cars without drivers, or even steering wheels, and robots watering plants and taking care of elderly parents. Musk earlier underlined that shift by announcing Tesla had decided to end production of two older car models, S and X, in the second quarter and convert a Fremont, California, factory to instead produce its Optimus robots. London-based technology research and advisory group Omdia said Tesla shipped fewer than 500 general-purpose embodied, intelligent robots in 2025. Still, the company is among the vendors that showcased industry-leading advancements in AI capabilities, its report said. Tesla entered the mainland Chinese market in 2013, and the factory Wang spoke at delivered the company's first made-in-China vehicles in late 2019. The factory delivered 851,000 electric vehicles in 2025, accounting for more than half of Tesla's total global deliveries that year. A separate factory began production in Shanghai in 2025, marking the firm's launch of commercial energy storage manufacturing in China.

Tesla leader believes Shanghai factory operations will play a role in robot mass production

SHANGHAI -- A Tesla Inc. leader said Tuesday he believes its Shanghai factory operations will help resolve the challenges in achieving mass production of the company's humanoid robots as the U.S. electric vehicle giant pivots to robotics. Wang Hao, Tesla's vice president, said the Shanghai facilities, like other Tesla factories, will contribute after the company enters an era of robots. Wang, who also serves as president of Tesla China, told reporters on a government-organized tour of one of its Shanghai factories that CEO Elon Musk once noted having production at scale is a critical challenge in manufacturing humanoid robots. Wang said he believes the Shanghai manufacturing arm "is a golden key to solving this challenge," but did not specify how the operation will support the company's robotic business. Musk has urged investors to focus less on car sales and more on what he considers a bright artificial intelligence future of robotaxis ferrying millions in cars without drivers, or even steering wheels, and robots watering plants and taking care of elderly parents. Musk earlier underlined that shift by announcing Tesla had decided to end production of two older car models, S and X, in the second quarter and convert a Fremont, California, factory to instead produce its Optimus robots. London-based technology research and advisory group Omdia said Tesla shipped fewer than 500 general-purpose embodied, intelligent robots in 2025. Still, the company is among the vendors that showcased industry-leading advancements in AI capabilities, its report said. Tesla entered the mainland Chinese market in 2013 and the factory Wang spoke at delivered the company's first made-in-China vehicles in late 2019. The factory delivered 851,000 electric vehicles in 2025, accounting for more than half of Tesla's total global deliveries that year. A separate factory began production in Shanghai in 2025, marking the firm's launch of commercial energy storage manufacturing in China.