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China · Robotics · Supply Chain · Tesla
Tesla's ambitious plan to produce Optimus humanoid robots in the US will depend on a vast network of Chinese component suppliers, who have been engaged for years in R&D and hardware design, forming the backbone of the "Optimus chain" for the foreseeable future.
Elon Musk aims for US assembly of Optimus robots, intended for American factory workforces. However, analysts and industry insiders confirm that hundreds of Chinese component makers, including suppliers of actuators, motors, reducers, bearings, vision systems, sensors, screws, and batteries, are crucial to this initiative.
Tesla began sourcing and collaborating with these suppliers three years ago, receiving sample components and new prototypes, such as curved-glass heads. These companies are vying for orders, hoping to boost their sales and profiles by becoming part of this emerging supply network, mirroring established component chains like those for Apple and Tesla's electric vehicles in China.
