Tesla’s Humanoid Robot Set for Mass Production by End of 2026 Amid Ongoing Enhancements in Payment Systems for Incoming Tourists

Significant Market Events: Tesla’s Latest Humanoid Robot Expected to Begin Mass Production by the End of 2026; Nine Departments Continue to Improve Payment Environment for Incoming Tourists During the Spring Festival.

1. Tesla’s Latest Humanoid Robot to Start Mass Production by End of 2026

On February 2, Tesla’s official Weibo account announced that the third-generation Tesla humanoid robot is set to make its debut, with an expected annual production of one million units. Insiders revealed that the Model S/X production line at the Fremont factory in the U.S. will be converted to a humanoid robot production line, with mass production slated to begin by the end of 2026. The ultimate plan aims for an annual production capacity of one million units. Since Tesla’s humanoid robot has an entirely independent supply chain, all components are designed based on first principles, suggesting that the ramp-up period for mass production will likely be longer than that for automotive products.

2. Nine Departments: Continuous Improvement of Payment Environment for Incoming Tourists

On February 2, the Ministry of Commerce and eight other departments issued the “2026 ‘Happy Spring Festival’ Special Activity Plan.” This plan aims to facilitate inbound consumption by encouraging localities to publish multilingual maps of Spring Festival customs to guide international travelers in experiencing China’s intangible cultural heritage and folk activities. In response to market demand, additional capacity will be added on international routes, offering inbound tourism packages that combine civil aviation and cultural tourism. The focus will be on key scenarios, continuously improving the payment environment through bank cards, mobile payments, and cash services to facilitate payments for incoming tourists.

3. Singapore to Establish Aerospace Agency on April 1

On February 2, it was announced that Singapore will establish its first aerospace agency on April 1. Serlina has been appointed as the future director of the Singapore Aerospace Agency and will officially take office on April 1. The agency will take over and expand the functions of the Singapore Office for Aerospace Technology and Industry Development, undertaking five core missions. In addition to strengthening the research and development ecosystem, developing the aerospace industry, and promoting international cooperation, it will also focus on developing and operating national aerospace capabilities and formulating relevant regulations.

4. Citigroup: Gold Valuation Reaches Extreme Levels, Risk of Declining Safe-Haven Demand in Second Half of 2026

On February 2, Citigroup warned that gold valuations have reached an extreme level, with global gold expenditure as a percentage of GDP soaring to 0.7%, the highest in 55 years. If the allocation of gold returns to the historical norm of 0.35% – 0.4%, gold prices could be at risk of being “halved.” With a potential resolution to the Russia-Ukraine conflict expected in the second half of 2026, along with a recovering U.S. economy and confirmed independence of the Federal Reserve, the collective decline in safe-haven sentiment could remove the last support for gold prices.

5. EY: Number of Institutions Continues to Hit Record Highs, Foreign Financial Institutions Deepening Engagement in China

On February 2, a report released by EY revealed that as of June 2025, there are 42 foreign-owned banks operating in China, backed by strong capital and extensive international experience, providing a solid foundation for the growth of foreign banks in the Chinese market. Additionally, foreign securities firms are accelerating their presence in China’s capital markets, and by June 2025, there will be 16 foreign-controlled securities companies operating in the country. The pace of foreign financial institution openings in banking, insurance, securities, and asset management will further accelerate, leading to a continuous rise in the number of institutions.

6. Guangdong: Encouraging Listed Companies to Utilize Convertible Bonds for Mergers and Acquisitions

On February 2, the Guangdong Provincial Development and Reform Commission issued the “Guangdong Province 2026 Work Plan for Optimizing a Market-Oriented Business Environment.” The plan emphasizes improving the marketization of property transactions. It encourages various intellectual property trading platforms and institutions to enhance their financial services related to intellectual property, collaborating with commercial banks to set up dedicated sections for the disposal of intellectual property collateral. It also suggests accelerating monetization through online bidding and matchmaking transactions, exploring broader avenues for the licensing, transfer, and auction of intellectual property rights. The plan aims to promote the construction of a carbon emissions trading market and support the Guangzhou Futures Exchange in advancing the carbon emissions futures market.

7. Tesla Achieves Scalability in Dry Electrode Battery Production

On February 2, Musk announced on social media that Tesla has achieved scalable production of dry electrode technology, marking a significant breakthrough in lithium battery production techniques. He congratulated the Tesla engineering, production, and supply chain teams, as well as strategic partners, for their outstanding achievements. Tesla stated that the dry electrode manufacturing process can reduce costs, energy consumption, and factory complexity while significantly enhancing scalability.

8. Ministry of Industry and Information Technology: 10.6% Growth in China’s Electronic Information Manufacturing Industry by 2025

On February 2, data from the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology indicated that by 2025, the value added by large-scale electronic information manufacturing will grow by 10.6% year-on-year, outpacing the growth rates of the industrial sector and high-tech manufacturing by 4.7 and 1.2 percentage points, respectively. In December, the year-on-year increase in the value added by large-scale electronic information manufacturing reached 11.8%. Among major products, mobile phone production totaled 1.54 billion units, down 5.8% year-on-year, with smartphone production at 1.27 billion units, a slight decrease of 0.9%. The production of microcomputer devices was 332 million units, a decline of 2.9%, while integrated circuit production rose to 484.3 billion units, marking a 10.9% increase.

9. Tesla Achieves Scalability in Dry Electrode Battery Production

On February 2, Musk reiterated on social media that Tesla has accomplished scalable production of dry electrode technology, a significant achievement in lithium battery manufacturing. He expressed his congratulations to the Tesla engineering, production, and supply chain teams, along with their strategic partners, for this remarkable milestone. Tesla confirmed that this dry electrode manufacturing process can lower costs, energy consumption, and factory complexity, while greatly improving scalability.

10. Civil Aviation Administration of China Seeks Opinions on C919 Aircraft Special Conditions

On February 2, the Civil Aviation Administration of China released a notice seeking opinions on the special conditions for the C919 aircraft. Based on the design characteristics of the C919, and in accordance with Article 21.16 of the “Regulations on the Qualification Certification of Civil Aviation Products and Parts,” the Aircraft Airworthiness Certification Department has prepared a draft of the special conditions for “C919 Aircraft Narrow Runway Operations.” This draft is now open for extensive feedback from the industry and the public, with a feedback period of ten working days.