Humanoids
Tesla said it had started making what it called its first production-quality Optimus robots at its Fremont, California factory, with Musk calling it early production and warning of a slow ramp.
A dated step forward on the record · Company-reported
What the source says
“Tesla has started production of its Optimus humanoid robot at its factory in Fremont, California, in a manufacturing space once dedicated to making electric vehicles, the company announced Wednesday.”
What it means
Optimus, from Tesla, is at stage 1 of 5 on our ladder: demo only. Its stage is set by other milestones on its record; this one adds to the history. This line rests on the company's own announcement; no regulator, customer or independent report confirms it in our sources yet.
Human help: The maker hasn't said whether people help it remotely.
More on Optimus
- Musk said Tesla would start delivering Optimus to outside customers around the end of 2027, saying the hands, durability and AI still needed work first.
- Tesla reportedly plans to lease Optimus, not sell it, to a short list of companies.
- Tesla went from a few dozen robots a week in the spring to several hundred a week in August 2026, The Information reported. These are V3 robots, not yet the version Tesla plans to sell.
- Tesla stopped making its Model S and Model X cars in early May 2026 and turned that Fremont line over to Optimus, according to The Information.
- Musk admitted that no Optimus robots were yet doing useful work at Tesla.
- Optimus robots mingled with guests at Tesla's 'We, Robot' event. Bloomberg's sources said staff working remotely oversaw many of those interactions.