During a recent investor call, Tesla CEO Elon Musk stated the company is “on the cusp of something really tremendous” with its humanoid robot, Optimus. Originally unveiled in 2021, Optimus has gone through multiple iterations, with the third version expected to debut in early 2026. Musk described the upcoming model as so advanced it will “look like a person wearing a robot suit,” highlighting Tesla’s ambition to push the boundaries of robotics design and human-like movement. Production is slated to begin this year, with plans to scale up to one million units annually by the end of 2026—four years ahead of the original 2030 target.
Despite the bold timeline, Tesla faces significant hurdles. The robot’s hand dexterity remains a major technical challenge, and the company must build an entirely new supply chain to support mass production. Musk has previously suggested that Optimus could eventually handle “dangerous, repetitive, and boring tasks” in Tesla factories, potentially replacing human labor in certain roles. Videos released earlier this month show Optimus performing kung-fu moves, dancing, and even cooking—demonstrating impressive coordination, though not necessarily industrial utility.
Tesla’s robotics ambitions place it in direct competition with established players like Boston Dynamics, Figure, Apptronik, and Chinese firms such as Unitree and LimX Dynamics. However, Tesla’s experience in scaling production and its access to factory environments for real-world testing give it a strategic edge. Musk has even claimed that Optimus could eventually account for more than 80% of Tesla’s overall value, signaling a shift in the company’s long-term focus from electric vehicles to robotics.
