Tesla is moving Optimus toward mass production, with orders already going to Chinese suppliers. China’s 21st Century Business Herald reports that Tesla began a new round of supplier audits on September 17, after its team arrived in Ningbo. The reported work includes checking production consistency and helping suppliers set up equipment. Earlier audits covered joint modules, precision parts and assembly quality, using automotive-style requirements for production speed and yield. July supply-chain reporting described parts orders covering hundreds of Gen3 robots and supplier expansion plans based on 100,000 robots. Suppliers are expanding capacity and developing new production processes. Meanwhile, component costs are being broken down against an eventual selling-price target of around $20,000, making faster production and fewer defective parts central to the ramp. The production plan calls for converting Fremont’s Model S/X lines for Optimus, targeting a start by the end of 2026 and eventual capacity of 1 million robots a year. Initial deployments are intended for Tesla’s own factories.