XPeng’s IRON humanoids walk off production line as Tesla Optimus faces delays

Chinese automaker XPeng has begun production of its IRON humanoid robot, marking a move toward commercial-scale manufacturing of humanoid machines. The company has commissioned a dedicated production facility in Guangzhou, where an IRON robot autonomously walked off the production line after being assembled. XPeng says the facility is designed to bring its automotive manufacturing expertise into robotics as competition intensifies among companies developing general-purpose humanoid robots. The move comes as Tesla continues to face delays in bringing its Optimus humanoid robot to large-scale production, highlighting the growing race to turn humanoid robots from prototypes into commercially manufactured machines. Begins mass production XPeng has commissioned production lines for its IRON humanoid robot, marking a shift from prototype development to dedicated manufacturing of the machines. The Chinese automaker says an IRON robot autonomously walked off the production line after completing manufacturing, demonstrating the integration of robotics, automation, and AI into its production process. XPeng describes IRON as an advanced general-purpose humanoid platform that combines human-like movement and form with AI-driven intelligence, with the system designed to support a wide range of tasks and improve through self-reinforcement using real-world experience. The company says more than 80 percent of the production line’s core processes are automated, helping deliver the precision and consistency needed to manufacture complex robotic systems at scale. XPeng is positioning IRON as a key part of its Physical AI strategy, with the technology designed to enable humanoids to operate safely and adaptively across different environments and applications. According to the firm, the production system also reflects the growing convergence of automotive and robotics technologies, as it applies its experience in intelligent vehicle manufacturing and automation to the emerging humanoid robotics sector. “We aim to build a new type of robot with full generalization capabilities that can truly become part of everyday life, create a better life for people, and ultimately become a companion in their lives,” said He Xiaopeng, Chairman and CEO of XPENG, in a statement. XPeng’s update comes as Tesla’s Optimus humanoid robot faces further delays, with production now expected to begin in the coming months and commercial sales targeted for the second half of 2027. Earlier plans called for production this summer and initial sales by late 2026. The robot’s official unveiling is expected near production, while the next-generation model’s design and scale will depend on field experience. IRON targets generalization XPeng’s IRON humanoid robot is built around a highly human-like form, with a proprietary fully enclosed flexible lattice structure designed to balance mobility, aesthetics, and safety. The robot has 76 degrees of freedom (DOF) across its body, while each hand features 21 DOF, giving IRON a high degree of dexterity for manipulating objects and performing complex physical tasks. Its physical design is paired with substantial onboard computing, with three Turing AI chips providing up to 2,250 TOPS of effective computing power. This allows XPeng to run its physical AI foundation model directly on the robot rather than relying on remote computing or teleoperation for complex tasks. According to XPeng, onboard inference is designed to reduce latency, allowing IRON to process information and respond to its environment more quickly while also keeping operational data on the robot. The robot is designed as a general-purpose platform capable of handling a broad range of applications and improving through self-reinforcement from real-world experience. Combined with its automated production system, the hardware and AI architecture are intended to help XPeng move IRON from prototype demonstrations toward scalable deployment. “Looking ahead, XPENG robots are scheduled to enter mass production by the end of this year, with initial commercial-scenario rollouts beginning in XPeng’s own stores and campuses. Official market launch and delivery in China and overseas markets are planned for 2027,” said the firm in a statement.Get the latest in engineering, tech, space & science - delivered daily to your inbox.Jijo is an automotive and business journalist based in India. Armed with a BA in History (Honors) from St. Stephen's College, Delhi University, and a PG diploma in Journalism from the Indian Institute of Mass Communication, Delhi, he has worked for news agencies, national newspapers, and automotive magazines. In his spare time, he likes to go off-roading, engage in political discourse, travel, and teach languages.