Tesla Sources Chinese Parts for U.S.-Made Humanoid Robots, Audits Ningbo Suppliers

Foreign media reports indicate that Tesla has begun purchasing components from China for the humanoid robots it manufactures in the United States. The move is expected to help the U.S. automaker speed up production at its humanoid robot facility in Fremont, California.

China is the world's largest producer of humanoid robots, and its component supply chain is seen as a key enabler for Tesla's U.S. manufacturing plans. The reports say Tesla is turning to Chinese suppliers to support its Optimus humanoid robot program as it moves from trial production toward larger-scale output.

In mid-September, according to the reports, Tesla's robotics business team began conducting factory audits of three automotive parts suppliers in Ningbo. The three suppliers are Joyson Electronics, Tuopu Group, and Sanhua Automotive. The audits are part of Tesla's effort to qualify Chinese parts for its U.S. robot assembly operations.

The reports did not specify the value or volume of the orders, and Tesla has not publicly commented on the audits.

Before the factory audits, the three Ningbo suppliers had already received orders from Tesla for humanoid robot components. Those orders include joint modules, actuators, and precision structural parts, according to the reports.

Once the suppliers pass audits covering production line performance and compliance with relevant regulations and standards, they will begin mass production of the components. The sequence suggests Tesla is moving quickly to secure capacity for its humanoid robot program.

Tesla's robotics team also visited related companies in Hangzhou, Shanghai, and other cities in the region, the reports say. The broader visits indicate that Tesla is evaluating a wider Chinese supplier network, not just the three Ningbo companies. The visits covered Ningbo, Hangzhou, Shanghai, and other regional cities, signaling Tesla's expanding interest in China's robotics parts ecosystem.

The order-first, audit-later approach indicates that these suppliers already have an automotive parts cooperation base with Tesla. The audits are therefore focused on confirming whether their robot component production lines can meet mass production requirements.