Tesla says production-ready Optimus robot is coming soon

In its earnings report, Tesla says that the third-generation version of its Optimus humanoid robot “meant for mass production” will be unveiled in the first quarter of 2026.

This new version of Optimus will include “major upgrades from version 2.5, including our latest hand design.” And the company is making preparations for the first production line, which will commence “before the end of 2026.” Tesla says its planning for the eventual capacity of one million robots produced per year. Elon Musk previously predicted that Tesla would produce 5,000 robots in 2025, though its unlikely he met that milestone.

In an earnings call Wednesday, Musk said that Tesla was planning to end production of its Model S and Model X vehicles in the second quarter of 2026 to make room at its Fremont factory for Optimus.

Musk has also predicted that Optimus will not only be put to work in Tesla’s factories, but also as home assistants and even surgeons. He has said Tesla will begin to sell Optimus to the public “next year,” even as his company becomes more financially dependent on the prospect of humanoid robots.

But Optimus has had a rough rollout so far, including teleoperations missteps and the recent departure of Tesla’s head of robotics. Much is riding on the humanoid robot, including Musk’s $1 trillion pay package, which requires him to build at least one million robots.