Xpeng Targets 2027 Global Launch for Iron Humanoid as Physical AI Race With Tesla Intensifies

Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer Xpeng aims to achieve a monthly production rate exceeding 1,000 humanoid robots by the end of 2026, positioning itself against Tesla in a high-stakes competition to lead the physical AI sector—the integration of intelligent software into robotics and machinery.

In a statement to the South China Morning Post on Thursday, the Guangzhou-based automaker said this manufacturing capacity will support the global rollout of Iron, its next-generation humanoid, with commercial deliveries slated to begin in 2027.

Last November, Co-founder and CEO He Xiaopeng outlined a target of selling one million robots by 2030, pledging to drive down production costs to make the machines accessible for household use.

Iron operates on Xpeng’s proprietary Vision-Language-Action 2.0 AI model. Unlike legacy architectures that convert images into text-based code prior to executing movements, the new model enables the robot’s neural network to translate visual data directly into motion, enhancing task efficiency and minimizing information loss.

“Xpeng is redefining itself as a global contender in physical AI rather than a Tesla imitator,” said Eric Han, a senior manager at Shanghai-based consultancy Suolei. “As mass production commences later this year, Xpeng is poised to challenge Tesla’s Optimus, which has yet to reach commercialization.”

The development coincides with a strategic pivot at Tesla. In January, the U.S. automaker announced a transformation from a hardware-centric enterprise into a physical AI company. CEO Elon Musk revealed plans to cease production of the Model S and Model X at the Fremont, California factory to repurpose the facility for humanoid robot manufacturing. Tesla has not yet sold its Optimus humanoid.

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