Tesla begins mass production of Optimus humanoid robots at fremont factory, Musk says full capacity will take over a year

Tesla has begun mass production of its Optimus humanoid robots at its Fremont factory, according to a report from IT Home on October 22, 2026. CEO Elon Musk stated that the production line will require approximately one year or longer to reach a weekly output of 20,000 units. The factory, which previously produced Model S and Model X vehicles, was reconfigured in just 46 days to accommodate the new production line. Musk acknowledged ongoing challenges, including technical difficulties with the robot's hands and supply constraints related to rare earth magnets from China. He emphasized that around 10,000 details need to be fine-tuned before reaching full capacity. Tesla plans to integrate its AI5 chip into the Optimus robots, with the feature expected to be completed by April 2027. Musk also mentioned that the robot will be available for industrial use by the end of 2027, after resolving remaining design and reliability issues. A video showcasing the robot performing non-programmed tasks is expected to be released in about two months. Musk remains confident that Optimus will become the largest product globally, despite the challenges of scaling production of a revolutionary product.