On September 8, 2026, XPeng began mass production of its humanoid robot, Iron. At a new factory in Guangzhou, the first unit rolled off the assembly line autonomously; more than 80 percent of the core processes there are already automated. The Chinese electric car manufacturer has thus overtaken Tesla, whose Optimus robot is still awaiting a converted production line in Fremont.
In summary:
- XPeng has launched the first production line for its humanoid robot, Iron, in Guangzhou; over 80% of the core processes are automated
- Iron has 76 degrees of freedom—21 in each hand alone—stands 173 cm tall, and weighs 65 kilograms
- Three in-house Turing chips collectively deliver 2,250 TOPS of computing power; the robot operates entirely without remote control
- The robotics division raised over $900 million in August 2026 at a valuation of $6.3 billion
- Mass production is scheduled to begin in late 2026, with sales set to launch in China and internationally in 2027
The factory in Guangzhou: How XPeng Iron is now being built
Until now, Iron was primarily known from stage appearances and demo videos. That’s about to change: XPeng has launched its own production line for humanoid robots in Guangzhou and manufactured the first mass-production unit there. According to the company, more than 80 percent of the core processes are automated, and the first unit left the line without any outside assistance—that is, it wasn’t carried, pushed, or remotely controlled, but walked on its own two legs.
This is a key difference from the competition that XPeng itself likes to highlight: While other manufacturers often integrate robotics production into existing vehicle plants, XPeng has built a dedicated factory, clearly benefiting from its own experience in automotive manufacturing.
XPeng Iron Technical Specifications at a Glance
There’s a lot of technology hidden beneath the soft, lattice-like outer shell. The key specifications at a glance:
| Feature | Value |
|---|---|
| Height | 173 cm |
| Weight | 65 kg |
| Degrees of freedom for the body | 76 |
| Degrees of freedom per hand | 21 |
| AI chips | 3 × XPeng Turing chip |
| Computing Power | 2,250 TOPS (total, on-device) |
| Control | Autonomous via XPeng’s Physical AI model; no remote control |
The hand mechanics are particularly striking: 21 degrees of freedom per hand is a high figure and is intended to enable fine-motor tasks that many humanoid robots have so far been unable to perform. The three Turing chips process all data directly within the robot, including a bilingual language model. This reduces latency compared to a cloud connection and keeps sensitive data on the device.
Where Is the Money Coming From? Record Funding for XPeng’s Robotics Division
Mass production isn’t coming out of nowhere: In August 2026, XPeng’s robotics division secured over $900 million, at a valuation of more than $6.3 billion. According to the company, this is the largest single private funding round ever raised in China’s embodied AI sector. The funds are likely to have gone directly toward expanding manufacturing capacity, which XPeng is now demonstrating with its new Guangzhou factory.
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Timeline: When will XPeng Iron be available for purchase?
It will still be a while before Iron is helping out in your own home. XPeng plans to begin mass production by the end of 2026, initially deploying the robots in its own stores and on the company’s campus. The official launch and delivery to customers in China and internationally are scheduled for 2027. Looking ahead, XPeng aims to significantly ramp up production volumes: from an initial 1,000 units per month to one million robots per year by 2030—a goal that sounds ambitious and echoes XPeng’s own growth plans in the electric vehicle business.
XPeng vs. Tesla: Who’s in the lead in the robot race?
The comparison with Tesla is inevitable, and XPeng is likely making it a point to provoke it. Elon Musk had promised around 10,000 Optimus units by 2026, but has since had to admit that not a single one is yet in productive use. According to a report by Electrek, Optimus production at Tesla’s Fremont plant is just getting underway, and Musk himself expects output to be “quite slow” for the time being. XPeng, on the other hand, is already showcasing a dedicated, highly automated production line and a completed first prototype at its new factory in Guangzhou.
Still, the comparison isn’t entirely fair: XPeng hasn’t yet delivered a single Iron to a paying customer either, and it remains to be seen in practice whether the margins calculated for electric cars can truly be applied one-to-one to robots. CEO He Xiaopeng nevertheless confidently sums up the company’s ambition: “We want to build a new type of robot that is truly versatile and can become a real part of everyday life.”
Conclusion
With the start of production, the XPeng Iron is moving from a showcase model to a real production product—and sooner than its major U.S. competitor, Tesla. The key technical specifications—most notably the movable hands and on-device AI—look promising. Whether this will actually result in a product suitable for everyday use, however, won’t be determined until 2027, when the first customers receive their units. Until then, it will be fascinating to see how XPeng holds its own against Tesla, Figure, Unitree, and the growing number of Chinese robotics startups.
