Tesla Optimus Gen 3 Enters Production Mid-Year; Geely Unveils Native Robotaxi as Multiple Companies Advance Embodied AI

Tesla plans to officially begin mass production of its third-generation humanoid robot, Optimus, between July and August 2024, with external deployment expected in 2025. The robot features onboard intelligence, enabling it to operate continuously for several hours without internet connectivity or human supervision. Tesla will establish its first production line at the Fremont factory in California, targeting an annual capacity of 1 million units, while preparing a second-generation production line at its Texas Gigafactory with a long-term goal of producing 10 million units annually. Honor’s “Lightning” humanoid robot won first place in the world’s inaugural humanoid robot half-marathon held on April 19, completing the race in a net time of 50 minutes and 26 seconds—breaking the human record. Over 100 teams and more than 300 robots from enterprises, universities, and international groups participated in the event. Honor’s robot supply chain includes companies such as Hesai Tech, Lens Technology, Lingyi Intelligent Manufacturing, and AAC Technologies. Li Liyun, former vice president of XPeng Motors, has joined Zhongqing Robotics as Chief Technology Officer. Zhongqing Robotics has launched multiple humanoid robot models—including SA02, PM01, and T800—targeting applications in companionship, inspection, and industrial scenarios. Magic Atom recently signed a RMB 150 million robotics procurement order focused on smart home health solutions, offering customized intelligent hardware and health management systems. The company has already deployed solutions across nine sectors, including industrial, security, logistics, and education. Geely Auto unveiled its first natively developed Robotaxi prototype, Eva Cab, at the Beijing Auto Show on April 24. The vehicle integrates NVIDIA’s SuperChip, Thor U, and Qualcomm Snapdragon 8797 chips, delivering over 3,000 TOPS of total computing power. It is equipped with RoboSense’s 2160-line digital LiDAR with a maximum detection range of 600 meters and will feature Geely’s Level 4 autonomous driving software, “Qianli Haohan G-ASD L4.” A customized version for CaoCao Mobility is scheduled for launch in 2027. On April 22, Horizon Robotics launched its cabin-and-driving integrated automotive AI chip series “Starry,” comprising the Starry 6P and Starry 6H models built on a 5nm process and delivering 650 TOPS of BPU computing power. The chips support deployment of both cabin AI and advanced autonomous driving large models, reducing per-vehicle costs by RMB 1,500–4,000 and shortening development cycles. Horizon has secured collaboration intentions from automakers including BAIC, BYD, Changan, Volkswagen, Chery, and FAW Besturn, as well as multiple Tier 1 suppliers. On April 21, RoboSense introduced its “Genesis” digital architecture and two flagship SPAD-SoC chips: the Phoenix series supports 2160-line LiDAR with a 600-meter detection range and has already been selected by leading automakers for mass production starting in 2026; the Peacock series offers VGA-level resolution, a 180°×135° field of view, and millimeter-level precision, with volume shipments scheduled to begin in Q3 2026. Pudu Robotics has completed a nearly RMB 1 billion funding round, pushing its valuation beyond RMB 10 billion. The round was co-led by Longgang Financial Holdings and Asia Investment Capital. Proceeds will be used to advance embodied intelligence R&D, expand product offerings, scale global market presence, and boost manufacturing capacity. Pudu has achieved full-stack in-house development across navigation algorithms, multi-robot scheduling, motion control, and joint modules, establishing four core product lines—service delivery, commercial cleaning, industrial logistics, and general-purpose embodied intelligence—and has completed a comprehensive portfolio spanning specialized, quasi-humanoid, and fully humanoid robot forms.