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1X Technologies' California Factory launch signals aggressive U.S. expansion in consumer humanoid robotics manufacturing.
1X Technologies is a robotics start-up based in Norway that has recently started ramping up production of humanoid robots out of its 58,000-square-foot manufacturing plant located in Hayward, CA. To date, 1X is one of the very few companies (alongside OpenAI) that is producing humanoids for mass consumption. Initially, 1X's factory will produce an impressive 10,000 robots in its first calendar year and will ramp up to 100,000 production within four years when the new factory in San Carlos, CA is built.
The Neo will also have voice recognition and adaptive learning features to provide assistance to households that require them. In addition, the company hopes to use the Neo humanoids to aid in elder care, which is becoming an increasingly urgent need as the world continues to age.
The startup's manufacturing strategy emphasizes vertical integration, producing components in-house including copper coils, motors, electronics, and batteries. This approach enables rapid iteration cycles, allowing the company to collect robot-generated data and deploy updates quickly. Founder Bernt Bornich believes humanoids will achieve critical mass adoption within two years, requiring substantial skilled labor investment across the United States.
The latest Neo generation includes optical improvements over earlier models, featuring an optimized eye socket for expanded field of view, enhanced lenses, and a squeezable soft head. Each unit contains custom camera modules, in-house electronics, and an Nvidia Thor processing chip. Quality control involves final assembly followed by "morning stretches"—squats and yoga poses—to verify movement and functionality before shipment.
The expansion reflects a broader industry shift toward localized production. While Chinese manufacturers currently dominate the global humanoids market, accounting for the majority of 13,000 units shipped last year, 1X's U.S. facility represents growing momentum in American hard-tech manufacturing.
Business Honor views that 1X Technologies' California Factory establishment represents strategic advancement in humanoid manufacturing scale and vertical integration capabilities
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