Tesla Optimus: everything we know
Tesla's humanoid robot explained, from the UK. Updated whenever there's news.
Last updated
The key facts
- Maker
- Tesla, USA. Built at Fremont, California, on the old Model S and Model X line
- Status
- Production began on Tesla's high-volume Fremont lines (Tesla, 21 October 2026). Musk calls it "early production" and says reaching 20,000 a week will take at least a year
- Price
- No price yet. Musk's long-term target is $20,000–30,000 at scale
- Who gets them
- Tesla itself for now: robots are used internally for testing, training and data collection
- In the UK?
- Not on sale, and no UK date announced. Deliveries to outside companies are expected around the end of 2027
From our reporting: Tesla starts building Optimus robots in Fremont, but Musk says the ramp will take a year · Humanoid robots in 2026: prices, availability and what they can really do
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How it compares
Optimus against the other humanoids people ask us about most.
| Robot | Status | Price | UK? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tesla Optimus V3 | Early production, internal use | No price; target $20k–30k at scale | No |
| Figure 03 | Working with business partners, including BMW | No public price | No |
| Boston Dynamics Atlas | Training at Hyundai's Georgia plant | Not published | No |
| Agility Digit | Working in warehouses and factories | $8,500/month lease | Business only |
| 1X NEO | US pre-order | $20,000 or $499/month | Not yet |
| Unitree G1 | On sale | UK from £16,568 | Yes |
Your questions answered
Can I buy a Tesla Optimus in the UK?
No. There is no pre-order for consumers or businesses anywhere. Elon Musk says Optimus should be delivered to companies outside Tesla around the end of 2027, and Tesla has announced no UK date.
How much will Optimus cost?
Tesla has not published a price. Musk's only figure is a long-term target of $20,000–30,000 once production is at scale.
What can Optimus actually do today?
The robots coming off the Fremont line are used inside Tesla for testing, training and data collection; Tesla has announced no outside customers. Musk has said there is "quite a lot of work to do" on the AI before it is truly useful for open-ended tasks, and reporting by The Information says it still struggles with unfamiliar tasks without extensive training.
How many Optimus robots is Tesla making?
Tesla gave no current weekly figure in October. A September report said output had reached several hundred a week, but not reliably, with a goal of more than 1,000 a week by the end of 2026. Musk says reaching 20,000 a week, roughly a million a year, will take at least a year, maybe a little longer.
Why are Optimus's hands a problem?
A late-September report said the hands posed major manufacturing and durability challenges, with intricate assembly, supplier limits and breakdowns in automated assembly equipment at Fremont. Human-style dexterity needs dozens of tiny actuators, tendons and sensors that must survive thousands of hours of use.
Is Tesla merging with SpaceX?
Not yet. Musk confirmed in October that both companies have set up committees of independent directors to look at a possible merger, but no terms have been agreed and there is no guarantee of a deal. Musk has said Optimus and the Cybercab will be the vast majority of Tesla's value.
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