The company behind NEO, the humanoid robot that captured global attention last year, has announced plans to significantly scale up its production. The goal is to manufacture 100,000 units annually by the end of 2027.
Based in Palo Alto, California, the company, known as 1x, revealed details about its expansion in a news release on Thursday, April 30. According to the statement, the robots will be produced at the company’s Hayward factory, located approximately 27 miles from San Francisco.
NEO was launched at a price of $20,000 per unit in October. In just five days, the company managed to sell out its entire annual production capacity of 10,000 units.
The first batch of NEOs is expected to be delivered to customers this year, though 1x warned that the timeline might face delays. “Some of you will get your NEO this year, some will get them later,” the company stated. “We promised the first NEOs would ship in 2026, and we’re keeping that promise.”
To meet growing demand, 1x is leveraging its facilities in both Hayward and San Carlos. A new facility in San Carlos is set to open later this year, which will help increase production capacity. Currently, the company aims to produce 10,000 NEOs annually. However, with planned increases in automation, 1x expects to reach an output of over 100,000 units per year by the end of 2027.
This expansion marks a significant step for 1x as it moves closer to making humanoid robots more accessible to consumers. The company’s focus on automation is expected to play a key role in achieving its ambitious production targets.
How will the robots get built?
And who will be building those robots? In some cases, the company said, robots will.
In the factory, the machines are collecting real-world data to learn practical tasks, including stocking parts for assembly technicians, performing basic warehousing and logistics operations.
The robots are expected to take on greater roles in the coming months, such as facility security, the company said.
“Long term, the possibilities are near limitless,” 1x said. “We are incredibly excited to share regular updates as NEO evolves from factory assistant to a true general-purpose robot – one that will eventually handle everything from household chores to building robots, supporting chip fabs, powering data centers, and more.”
What is NEO?
When 1x launched NEO for preorder in October, it did so with a video of the robot taking out the trash, watering plants and dancing. However, a Wall Street Journal video of the robot showed it struggling to perform basic tasks, such as loading a dishwasher. The video also showed the robot being operated by a virtual agent.
In a news release at the time, 1x said NEO is made of “tendon-driven actuators,” making it quiet and lightweight. The robot stands 5-feet, 6-inches tall, weighs 66 pounds, and is made of 3D Lattice Polymer. Its tendons allow it to carry up to 55 pounds and lift 154 pounds. NEO has four microphones, three speakers and fish-eye cameras for vision.
It runs on Nvidia technology and has a four-hour battery life. When it runs out of battery, it walks itself to its charging port and charges itself.
The goal is for NEO to become fully autonomous, 1x said. Its autonomy will progress as it completes tasks, the company added. Despite the company’s great ambitions, it’s still unclear when the robot will enter U.S. homes.
Michelle Del Rey is a trending news reporter at USA TODAY. Reach her at mdelrey@.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NEO humanoid robot company plans to release 100,000 units by late 2027
While the initial launch of NEO was met with high demand, the company acknowledges that scaling up production is a complex process. Factors such as supply chain management, quality control, and technological advancements will all influence the timeline. Despite these challenges, 1x remains committed to delivering on its promises.
The success of NEO has sparked interest not only among consumers but also within the broader tech industry. As humanoid robots become more integrated into daily life, companies like 1x are leading the charge in shaping the future of human-machine interaction.
With its focus on innovation and scalability, 1x is positioning itself as a major player in the robotics sector. The company’s efforts to expand production could pave the way for more widespread adoption of humanoid robots in various industries, including healthcare, education, and customer service.
As 1x continues to refine its manufacturing processes, the next few years will be critical in determining how quickly the company can meet its production goals. For now, the excitement around NEO shows no signs of slowing down, with many eager to see what the future holds for this groundbreaking technology.
