Tesla Aims to Deliver Unsupervised FSD by Year-End and Launch Optimus Humanoid Robot Sales Soon

Tesla continues to push forward with its autonomous driving and humanoid robotics ambitions, despite repeated delays and shifting timelines. During the company’s Q1 2026 earnings call, CEO Elon Musk confirmed that unsupervised Full Self-Driving (FSD) technology for consumer vehicles will not be available until the fourth quarter of 2026 at the earliest. This marks another postponement in a long series of missed deadlines for the feature, which Musk has previously promised for as early as 2018 and most recently for June 2025.

The delay is attributed to the need for extensive validation of edge cases across different geographic regions. Musk explained that Tesla will roll out unsupervised FSD gradually, releasing it only in areas where the company feels confident in the system’s safety after thorough testing. Specific challenges cited include complex intersections, poorly marked roads and adverse weather conditions, all of which require geography-by-geography validation before deployment.

Despite the delay in consumer-facing FSD, Tesla is moving ahead with plans to deploy unsupervised FSD in its robotaxi fleet. Musk reiterated that robotaxis equipped with the technology will begin picking up fares in Austin, Texas, starting in June 2026. He also expressed confidence that a similar rollout could occur in California later in the year, although he acknowledged that regulatory approval may be more difficult to obtain there compared to other states.

In parallel with its autonomous driving efforts, Tesla is advancing production of its Optimus humanoid robot. The company plans to manufacture 10,000 Optimus units in 2026, with sales to other businesses expected to begin in 2027. Musk has previously stated that the production complexity for Optimus is lower than that of electric vehicles and that the cost to build each robot will remain under $20,000.

Tesla’s Q1 2026 financial results showed a net profit of $477 million, providing some financial cushion as the company continues to invest heavily in AI, robotics, and autonomous technology. During the earnings call, Musk framed these investments as essential to Tesla’s long-term vision, even as he expressed frustration over what he perceives as unfair criticism of the company’s capital expenditure plans.

While Tesla maintains that its FSD technology will eventually surpass human safety levels, Musk has adopted a more cautious tone in recent statements, acknowledging that real-world driving conditions present significant challenges that cannot be rushed. The company’s approach now emphasizes incremental, validated rollouts over bold timelines, reflecting lessons learned from years of overpromising and underdelivering on autonomous driving promises.