Xpeng’s Humanoid Robot ‘IRON’ Enters Mass Production in China

BEIJING — Chinese technology company Xpeng has officially started mass production of its humanoid robot, designated IRON, marking a significant milestone in the commercial robotics sector. Company representatives stated that the unit will be the first of its kind to navigate out of its manufacturing facility under its own power.

The robot previously gained widespread attention after presenters cut open its synthetic skin on stage to demonstrate that no human operator was controlling it from within. While Xpeng confirmed production is underway through its existing facilities, the company has not disclosed specific output targets or manufacturing volumes.

Standing approximately 5 feet 7 inches tall and weighing 143 pounds, the robot features a fabric-covered exterior available in various body shapes and genders. It boasts 82 degrees of freedom across its frame, including 22 in each hand, allowing it to move at speeds of up to 6.5 feet per second—comparable to a brisk power walk.

Xpeng executives have expressed ambitious goals for the device, envisioning it assisting with household chores such as laundry folding and cleaning. The company draws a parallel between the anticipated adoption of humanoid robots and the proliferation of smartphones in the mid-2000s, predicting similar growth rates in the coming years.

Marketing the robot as the world’s first “high-level, general-purpose” humanoid, Xpeng claims IRON can receive verbal instructions, formulate strategies, and navigate complex environments while avoiding obstacles without relying on trial and error. It also includes an autonomous self-charging capability, enabling it to locate designated charging stations and plug itself in when batteries are low.

If these claims hold true, IRON joins a select group of AI-powered humanoid robots entering large-scale manufacturing. Competitors include Figure AI’s Figure 03, which demonstrated live production line capabilities in May, and China’s AGIBOT, which reported reaching 15,000 units by June. In contrast, Tesla’s Optimus robot remains in assembly phases with multiple delayed releases since 2022.

Xpeng distinguishes its technology by utilizing a unified “world model” for both IRON and its fleet of AI-enabled electric vehicles and flying car prototypes, rather than developing separate AI engines. The robot operates using three core frameworks: a vision-language-action (VLA) system for integrating perception and motor control; a vision-language model (VLM) for processing visual and textual data; and a vision-language-task (VLT) model that provides reasoning capabilities for task execution.

Powering these systems are three Turing AI chips, delivering a combined 2,250 trillion operations per second (TOPS). This processing power allows the robot to run local models equivalent to Meta’s Llama 3.2 without requiring an internet connection, a substantial increase over the roughly 50 TOPS found in typical consumer laptops capable of simple on-device AI tasks.

“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, Xpeng’s chairman and CEO.

Initial deployments will take place within Xpeng’s own showrooms and technology campuses in China to test various applications. Beginning in 2027, the company plans to ship units to commercial customers for roles in customer service and guided tours, primarily within China before expanding to international markets.