Tesla CEO Elon Musk said that China's new export control on rare earth magnets has affected the production of Tesla's Optimus humanoid robots.
He revealed that the company is negotiating with Beijing regarding this issue, hoping to obtain approval to continue accessing these critical components.
Musk stated at Tesla's earnings call on Tuesday that the Optimus robot relies on exports of rare earth magnets, and China's recent export restrictions have impacted its production.
Earlier this month, China implemented new export controls on seven rare earth elements, including rare earth magnets. These materials are widely used in defense, energy, automotive technology, and other fields. This move was seen as a countermeasure against the escalating tariff measures imposed by former U.S. President Donald Trump.
According to Musk, Beijing has requested Tesla provide assurances that these rare earth magnets subject to export controls will not be used for military purposes.
"China wants some assurance that these magnets will not be used for military purposes – obviously, they won’t be. These magnets are just used in humanoid robots," Musk said at the meeting.
The new regulations increase the risk of global supply shortages, requiring that intermediate and heavy rare earth products involved in exports must obtain an export license issued by China's Ministry of Commerce.
According to analysis from the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), China dominates the market for these rare earth products, while the United States has yet to develop the capability to fill potential gaps.
In the meantime, the Trump administration is considering imposing new tariffs on all critical minerals imported into the United States as a response to China's export controls.
Original article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/1830180000049152/
Disclaimer: The article solely represents the author's personal views.