Workers check on the Tesla Model Y at the production lines at the Tesla Gigafactory assembly plant during a media organized tour, in Shanghai, China, Tuesday, April 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)
A worker transfers compartments at the Tesla Model Y production lines at the Tesla Gigafactory assembly plant during a media organized tour, in Shanghai, China, Tuesday, April 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)
Workers check on a Tesla Model Y at the Tesla Gigafactory assembly plant during a media organized tour, in Shanghai, China, Tuesday, April 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)
A worker labors at the Tesla Model Y production lines at the Tesla Gigafactory assembly plant during a media organized tour in Shanghai, China, Tuesday, April 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)
Workers inspect a Tesla Model Y at the production lines at the Tesla Gigafactory assembly plant during a media organized tour, in Shanghai, China, Tuesday, April 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)
SHANGHAI (AP) — A Tesla Inc. leader said Tuesday he believes its Shanghai factory operations will help resolve the challenges in achieving mass production of the company's humanoid robots as the U.S. electric vehicle giant pivots to robotics.
Wang Hao, Tesla's vice president, said the Shanghai facilities, like other , will contribute after the company enters an era of robots.
Wang, who also serves as president of Tesla China, told reporters on a government-organized tour of one of its that CEO Elon Musk once noted having production at scale is a critical challenge in manufacturing humanoid .
Wang said he believes the Shanghai manufacturing arm “is a golden key to solving this challenge," but did not specify how the operation will support the company's robotic business.
Musk has urged investors to on car sales and more on what he considers a bright artificial intelligence future of robotaxis ferrying millions in cars without drivers, or even steering wheels, and robots watering plants and taking care of elderly parents.
Musk earlier underlined that shift by announcing Tesla had decided to end production of two older car models, S and X, in the second quarter and convert a Fremont, California, factory to instead produce its Optimus robots.
London-based technology research and advisory group Omdia said Tesla shipped fewer than 500 general-purpose embodied, intelligent in 2025. Still, the company is among the vendors that showcased industry-leading advancements in AI capabilities, its report said.
Tesla entered the mainland Chinese market in 2013 and the factory Wang spoke at delivered the company's first made-in-China vehicles in late 2019. The factory delivered 851,000 electric vehicles in 2025, accounting for more than half of Tesla's total global deliveries that year.
A separate began production in Shanghai in 2025, marking the firm's launch of commercial energy storage manufacturing in China.
___
Leung reported from Hong Kong. Video producer Olivia Zhang contributed to this report.
The Associated Press
Get the latest from ¹ú²úÓÕ»ó¸£Àû News in your inbox. Select the emails you're interested in below.
Sorry, an error occurred.
Already Subscribed!
Cancel anytime
Thank you .
Your account has been registered, and you are now logged in.
Check your email for details.
Submitting this form below will send a message to your email with a link to change your password.
An email message containing instructions on how to reset your password has been sent to the email address listed on your account.
No promotional rates found.
Secure & Encrypted
Thank you.
Your gift purchase was successful! Your purchase was successful, and you are now logged in.
| Rate: | |
| Tax: | |
| Today's total: | |
| Begins: | |
| Transaction ID: |
A receipt was sent to your email.
