Tesla plans to begin production of its Optimus humanoid robot in 2026, according to comments from Elon Musk during a company update. The timeline marks another step in Tesla’s push to expand beyond electric vehicles and deepen its automation strategy.

Optimus is intended to be a general-purpose humanoid robot, part of Musk’s broader vision for applying artificial intelligence and robotics to everyday work. Tesla has previously shown prototype versions of the machine, but large-scale manufacturing has not yet started.

The 2026 target suggests Tesla is moving from demonstration toward a more concrete production phase, although the company still faces major technical and manufacturing challenges. Humanoid robots remain a difficult category to build at scale, with companies across the sector racing to improve mobility, dexterity and reliability.

Tesla did not provide a detailed production volume in the update, and the timeline may still shift as development continues. For investors and industry watchers, the announcement adds another data point to Tesla’s expanding bet on robotics as a future growth area.

Optimus robot

Musk says Tesla aims to start Optimus robot production in 2026