Tesla Repurposes Fremont Plant for Mass Production of Optimus Humanoid Robot

Tesla has completed a 46‑day teardown of the Model S and Model X assembly line at its Fremont, California factory, clearing the space that produced roughly 610,000 flagship vehicles over the past decade. The dismantling marks the end of the luxury sedan and SUV programs, which shipped their final units in early May 2026 after an "honorable discharge" announced by Elon Musk.

The vacated floor is being rebuilt with modular equipment, including some units shipped from Germany, to launch a dedicated production line for the third‑generation Optimus humanoid robot. Tesla aims for a capacity of up to one million Optimus units annually, with low‑volume manufacturing expected to start later this year and larger‑scale output slated for 2026. The move reflects a strategic shift from low‑volume flagship cars toward automation, robotics, and artificial intelligence.

Musk has said vehicles are no longer Tesla's core product, positioning Optimus as a potentially disruptive offering that could surpass the company's automotive business in scale and value.