Tesla Reportedly Auditing China Suppliers Ahead of Optimus Gen 3 Ramp

Supplier Review Underway in China

Tesla is reportedly conducting audits of its suppliers in China as the company prepares for the next phase of production of its Optimus humanoid robot, according to a report from TrendForce. The audits are said to be tied to the anticipated ramp-up of the Optimus Gen 3 version, suggesting Tesla is working to line up its supply chain ahead of a larger manufacturing push.

$20,000 Price Target in Focus

Alongside the supplier review, TrendForce reports that Tesla is eyeing a price target of $20,000 for the robot. While the report does not detail a specific timeline for reaching this price point, it signals that cost reduction remains a central goal as Tesla moves from earlier Optimus iterations toward a version intended for higher-volume production.

What It Means for the Supply Chain

Auditing suppliers is typically a step companies take before scaling manufacturing, as it allows a company to confirm that its partners can meet quality, capacity, and cost requirements. China has served as a hub for component sourcing across Tesla's broader manufacturing operations, and a formal audit process for Optimus-related suppliers would indicate the robot program is moving closer to a more substantial production phase.

Details on which specific suppliers are involved, the scope of the audits, or a firm timeline for Optimus Gen 3's rollout were not included in the TrendForce report. Tesla has not issued its own public statement confirming the audits or the $20,000 price target cited in the report. As with prior Optimus updates, further specifics are expected to emerge as Tesla progresses toward broader production and eventual commercial availability of the robot.

Source: TrendForce