Optimus

Optimus is a humanoid robot developed by Tesla. In September 2026, Tesla reported scaling up production at its Fremont facility to several hundred units per week, a roughly tenfold increase from the small-batch output of the second quarter. The current Optimus V3 model is not the final commercial version but is primarily used for internal testing and data collection. Tesla aims to establish an automated production line capable of producing over 1,000 units weekly by the end of 2026.

The assembly of the robot hand has emerged as a significant manufacturing hurdle, as the hand and forearm contain more than 100 screws and small components that largely require manual assembly. Tesla is also developing a replaceable glove-like sensor layer to address reliability issues with tactile sensors. Supply chain challenges persist, with high dependence on Chinese suppliers for joint modules and actuators; in September 2026, a Tesla team visited facilities in Ningbo to assess supplier readiness. Additionally, Tesla is considering using camera recordings of worker movements at its Berlin factory to generate training data for Optimus.

In October 2026, Tesla adjusted the memory specifications of its AI5 and AI6 chips to prioritize component volume for Optimus manufacturing. The AI5 allocation was cut to 72GB and the AI6 to 144GB. The company stated that this reduction lowers hardware costs while having a negligible impact on performance for its specific workloads. In September 2026, robot renders named 'gen3' were found within Tesla's Android app, depicting a more enclosed exterior design compared to previous variants, though these are considered development assets. As of October 2026, the steel framework for a dedicated Optimus factory at Giga Texas was reported to be approximately 40% complete.