Tesla delays Optimus robot and robotaxi production

Tesla announced that the ramp‑up of its Optimus humanoid robot and the planned robotaxi service will be slower than previously projected. The company expects the third‑generation Optimus line to begin manufacturing at its Fremont plant in July or August 2026, while the current robotaxi fleet stays limited to 59 vehicles and Full Self‑Driving version 15 is not expected until late 2026 or early 2027.

Elon Musk told analysts on the Q1 2026 earnings call that converting the Model S and X assembly line to a robot‑production line takes months and that “it is literally impossible to predict” how quickly volume output can be achieved. He described the rollout as a “stretched S‑curve” and warned that meaningful revenue from Optimus or robotaxi operations is unlikely before 2027. Investment in AI and robotics is set to rise to over €25 billion in 2026, reflecting the capital intensity of the effort. Market betting platforms assign only a 15% chance of a consumer Optimus version by the end of 2026, highlighting investor skepticism.