Tesla is preparing to open general reservations for the Optimus robot in early December, coinciding with the Robotics Summit in San Mateo, after halting production of the Model S and Model X to allocate the Fremont factory for robotics.
Production kickoff at Fremont factory and gradual scaling challenges
Hand engineering dilemma and suspension of Model S and X production
December reservation expectations and Gen 3 preview
Tesla net income drop of 43 percent and waitlist competition
Frequently asked questions
Production kickoff at Fremont factory and gradual scaling challenges
Tesla has started building and manufacturing its humanoid robot, Optimus, on a high-capacity production line at its facility located in Fremont, California. The company is also expected to allow the public to reserve the robot for the first time in early December. However, CEO Elon Musk warned that full-scale production is still at least a year away and that external customers will not receive any robots until close to the end of 2027.
In its Q3 2026 shareholder update released on October 21, Tesla stated that it “has begun producing Optimus on our high-capacity lines in Fremont.” The company described these units as “the first production-quality robots we have built,” confirming that its manufacturing process is “suitable for a commercial product.” Tesla did not disclose the number of robots it has actually built, with its capacity schedule listing the Fremont line as being in an “early ramp” phase without mentioning a specific capacity figure, according to The AI Insider.
Hand engineering dilemma and suspension of Model S and X production
During the earnings call, Musk stated that most of the production line designed to manufacture one million units annually is already in place at the Fremont factory. However, he explained that reaching a production rate of 20,000 units per week will take “probably at least a year, maybe slightly longer,” given that “there are still parts of the design that are constantly changing.” He told Business Insider that the robot “cannot break down and wear out after a month of work,” citing the hands as one of the hardest engineering problems ever, while also affirming his desire to “temper expectations.” Musk expects the remaining AI, design, and operational longevity issues to be resolved around the end of next year, noting that this is when Tesla will begin delivering Optimus to other businesses, starting with hazardous or repetitive industrial tasks. Tesla previously halted manufacturing of the Model S and Model X earlier this year to free up floor space at the Fremont factory for Optimus, and is also building a second line in Austin dedicated to higher production volumes, according to a Business Insider report.
December reservation expectations and Gen 3 preview
According to the San Francisco Standard, citing robotics investor Modar Alwai, Tesla is expected to open customer reservations in early December. Alwai stated that Tesla informed him reservations will launch in conjunction with the Humanoid Robotics Summit he is organizing in San Mateo, scheduled for December 1 and 2, or in the days immediately following, where Tesla plans to preview the third-generation Optimus V3 during the event. The outlet noted that the robots will likely not ship for another year and are expected to cost over $20,000, while it remains unclear whether a financial deposit will be required, and Tesla did not respond to the publication’s request for comment.
Tesla net income drop of 43 percent and waitlist competition
This aggressive push into robotics comes as the company’s profits shrink; Tesla’s net income dropped by 43 percent to $787 million in the third quarter, while capital expenditures more than doubled to $4.7 billion, according to Tech Times, which also pointed to a note from JPMorgan estimating that Tesla’s guidance implies building between 10,000 and 20,000 units prior to any external sales. Competitors like 1X have already opened waitlists but have not yet delivered any robots, while the San Francisco Standard noted that Tesla has been taking reservations for the Roadster for nearly a decade without delivering a vehicle, with Musk stating he would be “stunned” if any competitor has a robot “even remotely competitive with Optimus” by the time deliveries begin.
Frequently asked questions
Question: When will Tesla open reservations for the Optimus robot and when will deliveries begin?
Answer: Reservations are expected to open in early December 2026, coinciding with the Robotics Summit in San Mateo, while deliveries to external customers will not begin before the end of 2027.
Question: What is the expected price for Tesla’s Optimus robot?
Answer: Reports indicate that the cost per robot will exceed $20,000 USD, with a target of producing 10,000 to 20,000 internal units prior to external sales.
Question: Why did Tesla halt production of the Model S and Model X earlier this year?
Answer: Tesla halted production of both models to free up the necessary floor space inside the Fremont, California factory to install high-capacity Optimus robot production lines.
Question: How was Tesla’s financial performance in the third quarter of 2026?
Answer: Tesla’s net income declined by 43 percent to $787 million, while the company’s capital expenditures more than doubled to reach $4.7 billion.
