Tesla Optimus Texas Plant Steel Frame 40% Complete

Recap

Source: Humanoids Daily, report of Oct. 3, 2026

According to the report, the steel framework for Tesla’s dedicated Optimus manufacturing facility at Giga Texas is roughly 40% complete. This assessment comes from an October 1 construction update by drone observer Joe Tegtmeyer, who shared video clips showing the building’s current state. Tegtmeyer indicates that groundwork began in late March, with the first steel beams installed on May 27. By early October, the structure had nearly reached the northern grade beam, and large sections of the upper floors had been poured, with roofing insulation beginning to arrive on site.

However, the report highlights that progress is uneven across the site. While the northern and central areas show advanced structural work, the eastern side and the southern half still consist primarily of footings and grade beams, with no steel erected yet. Tegtmeyer describes the project as a dedicated plant exceeding seven million square feet. He cites plans for limited initial production in late 2027 and a long-term ambition to produce around 10 million robots annually, though the report clarifies these are his accounts of the plans rather than official Tesla announcements. The remaining work includes utility networks, exterior walls, roofing, and the eventual installation of production equipment.

Context

This development follows earlier coverage of the Texas facility’s steel-frame progress. The construction of a separate, large-scale factory for Optimus signals a shift from the current production setup at Fremont, where The Information reported that several hundred robots were being built weekly in August, primarily for internal development. The Fremont line has faced assembly and supplier-quality challenges, suggesting that the new Texas facility is intended to address the spatial and logistical constraints of scaling humanoid production. The distinction between the physical structure and the operational production line is crucial; the steel frame represents the housing for the process, not the process itself.

Robot's take

The 40% completion of the steel structure is a tangible milestone, but it is only the first step in a complex manufacturing ramp. The uneven progress across the site suggests that the facility is being built in phases, which may align with the staged production timeline mentioned. The gap between the physical building and the operational capability remains significant, as the installation of production equipment and the resolution of supply chain issues will determine the actual output. It is not yet clear whether the ambitious 10 million annual capacity target is realistic, given the current challenges in assembly and component quality. The next few months will likely focus on completing the building envelope and beginning the installation of the production line, which will be the true test of Tesla’s manufacturing ambitions.