Tesla has shifted its Fremont factory in California from producing Model S sedans and Model X SUVs to developing Optimus humanoid robots, according to The Information. The move came as the company pivoted from electric cars to robotics, with Elon Musk betting on AI and automation to shape the company’s future.
Tesla’s production of Optimus robots has faced significant hurdles, with the latest version, Optimus V3, proving difficult to manufacture at scale. The Information reported that the company has scaled up production to hundreds of robots per week but aims to reach over 1,000 per week by the end of 2,026.
The complexity of Optimus’s robotic hands, which have more than 100 small components, has led to a manual assembly process requiring immediate fixes. Touch sensors for the hands have also been unreliable, prompting Tesla to develop a glove-like sensor layer that can be replaced without replacing the entire hand.
"Workers knew the robots were designed to eventually replace them," said one source, describing the frustration of factory workers in Texas and California who were initially used to train the robots. Tesla has since shifted data collection to dedicated teams and set up training hubs for this purpose.
Tesla’s reliance on Chinese suppliers for robot components has also drawn attention, despite U.S. efforts to boost domestic production. The company faces stiff competition from automakers in China, Japan, and South Korea, as well as dedicated robotics firms like Agility Robotics, which has already deployed humanoids in warehouses.
The overall business case for humanoid robots remains unproven, requiring more cost-effective and safe deployments. Tesla’s challenges reflect broader difficulties in the robotics industry, as companies struggle with training data and hardware limitations.
Source: arstechnica
