Is Musk Conceding Ground? And Does XPENG's IRON Signal China's Lead in the Humanoid Robot Race? - CleanTechnica

The article highlights a notable moment in the humanoid robot race, marked by Elon Musk’s rare public acknowledgment of competition from Chinese EV maker XPENG. Following XPENG’s unveiling of its next-generation IRON humanoid robot, Musk privately remarked that Tesla and Chinese companies will dominate the market, while Western companies lag behind. This exchange underscores a shifting competitive landscape where the contest is primarily between American and Chinese tech giants, moving beyond the traditional Silicon Valley-centric view. XPENG’s CEO He Xiaopeng emphasized the significance of their achievement, framing the IRON robot’s mastery of a catwalk as definitive proof of China’s leadership in humanoid robotics. XPENG’s IRON robot distinguishes itself through a sophisticated “bone–muscle–skin” design that closely mimics human anatomy, featuring a flexible spine, bionic muscles, and customizable synthetic skin. It boasts 82 degrees of freedom, including highly articulated hands with 22 degrees of freedom each, enabling delicate manipulation and interaction with human-centric environments