Musk suggests tesla optimus robots may be leased, claiming 5x human productivity; initial cost around $30k

Elon Musk revealed at the 33rd Barron's Investment Conference in New York that Tesla's Optimus robot might be offered under a leasing model rather than outright sale. While specific rental pricing and capabilities are yet to be disclosed, Musk noted that the initial unit cost is projected to be around $30,000, potentially dropping to about $20,000 over time, stating that while initial costs might be comparable to a car, they will become significantly lower later on. Tesla has already begun early production of Optimus at its Fremont factory in October of this year, utilizing space previously dedicated to the Model S and Model X lines, with a planned annual capacity of one million units. However, Musk cautioned that achieving full production speed will require at least another year. The company plans to deploy the robots within its own facilities first, with external deliveries scheduled around the end of 2027. Furthermore, a version equipped with AI5 is anticipated to launch around April 2027, and Musk asserted that the robot's production efficiency could reach five times that of a human worker.