Tesla says it has started production for its Optimus line of humanoid robots at a Fremont, California, factory, with plans to start shipping the bots to customers in 2027.

In a conference call with shareholders, Tesla CEO Elon Musk noted that the ramp-up process could be "somewhat bumpy," given that the bot represents a radically new product for the company. Even so, Musk said, he expects Tesla will be capable of making 20,000 of them each week by the end of next year. 

“While we will continue to iterate on the hardware and manufacturing process, we have proven that the current manufacturing process for Optimus is suitable for a commercial product," Musk said.

Optimus is billed as a general purpose, bipedal autonomous humanoid robot, with a carrying capacity of 45 pounds, and the ability to perform repetitive manufacturing tasks. However, its commercial launch has been plagued by delays, dating back to the introduction of its first prototype in 2022. The bot was initially scheduled to enter limited production in 2025, before the project's head stepped down for personal reasons in that same year.

Additionally, critics have expressed skepticism over how much of a finished product Optimus might actually be. In demonstrations, employees remotely controlled many of the bot's interactions with guests, casting doubt on its true capabilities despite years of planning and development. Musk also previously acknowledged that Tesla might still need to improve the robot’s hands, reliability and artificial intelligence before it can perform a broader range of tasks independently.