New Tesla Optimus rival: Leak reveals first details about BYD's AI robot
The global race to develop humanoid AI robots is entering the next phase. While Tesla and Xpeng are already pursuing concrete mass-production plans for Optimus and Iron, respectively, EV manufacturer BYD is now joining the competition. A social media post from BYD's Di Space experience center in Zhengzhou, which was accidentally published and quickly deleted, along with discussions on Chinese social networks, has revealed surprisingly specific details about a project called "Xiao Di."
According to the leaked information, the Xiao Di humanoid AI robot stands 5 ft and 3 inches tall and weighs 130 lbs. With 31 degrees of freedom across its hands, legs, torso and neck, the robot is designed to move with a high degree of fluidity and precision. Its hands can grip objects weighing up to 2.2 pounds with an accuracy of 0.04 inches. Using 360-degree vision and dynamic real-time 3D modeling of its surroundings, the AI robot can recognize complex objects, faces, gestures and lip movements. It also features a multimodal interaction system capable of real-time translation across six dialects and six foreign languages.
The name alone suggests that BYD wants its AI robot to appear approachable. Xiao Di is a play on the Chinese word "Xiao," meaning small, and the shortened brand name "Di," roughly translating to "little BYD." An interesting side note is that BYD refers to the AI robot as female. This strategy fits neatly into the company's long-term plans. Executive Vice President Stella Li previously said that each BYD dealership could eventually employ two or three humanoid robots as sales assistants. They could greet customers, explain EVs and conduct demonstrations.
A full-fledged robotics battle is now emerging in China's auto industry. Chery is already selling its first Aimoga AI robots, while SAIC-GM uses wheeled robots in manufacturing. BYD, meanwhile, plans to deploy Xiao Di in its own factories and hundreds of showrooms. The prototype's rumored public debut in August could significantly intensify the competition with Tesla Optimus.
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