Tesla Begins Production of Humanoid Robots

Tesla has begun producing parts for its humanoid robot Optimus, marking a key step in the humanoid robotics race. Full industrial production is planned for 2026.

According to Tesla’s official announcement on its Weibo account on April 23, 2026, the third-generation Optimus V3 humanoid robot is expected to make its official debut in the middle of this year, with large-scale production slated to begin between July and August 2026.

The Optimus V3 features 37 joints, improved dexterity, and a walking speed of 1.2 meters per second, designed for both industrial and domestic applications. Tesla anticipates that Optimus will become its highest-volume product in history.

To support mass production, Tesla plans to convert Model S and X production lines for Optimus manufacturing, with annual capacity targets of 1 million units by late 2026, escalating to 10 million units at Gigafactory Texas.

Product testing is currently progressing as planned, with external application testing scheduled to commence in 2027. Tesla emphasized that the humanoid robot is expected to play a crucial role in the company’s transformation into a robotics-focused enterprise.

Elon Musk views Optimus as central to Tesla’s long-term strategy, stating that production for the humanoid robot is expected to start around late July or August 2026.