Tesla starts Optimus robot production as profit falls 43%

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 22 Oct, 14:08 · Archive

Tesla has begun early production of its Optimus humanoid robot at its Fremont factory as third-quarter profits fell sharply.

Tesla has begun early production of its Optimus humanoid robot at its Fremont, California factory, using manufacturing space previously dedicated to electric vehicles. The company described the machines coming off the line as its first production-quality bots and said its manufacturing process is suitable for a commercial product. CEO Elon Musk called this early production and said the ramp will be slow and somewhat bumpy. He claimed Tesla will be able to make 20,000 robots per week by the end of 2027.

Musk acknowledged significant work still needs to be done. The robot's hands, safety, reliability and durability all require refinement. He said there is still quite a lot of work needed with the artificial intelligence to make the robot truly useful for open-ended tasks. He expects these elements to come together by the end of 2027, when Tesla could begin delivering Optimus to outside companies, though Musk did not specify which companies or what tasks the robots would perform.

The announcement came as Tesla reported a 43 per cent drop in third-quarter profits. Revenue was flat year-over-year at $20 billion, largely driven by electric vehicle sales, while expenses skyrocketed as the company pressed ahead with investment in Optimus, AI and autonomous driving. The Verge notes that Tesla did not disclose how many robots have been produced, what tasks they can currently perform autonomously, or how often they complete tasks without human intervention.

How it is being reported

• Just because Tesla’s Optimus is in production doesn’t mean it’s actually readyOn Tesla's earnings call Wednesday, CEO Elon Musk announced that the company had begun early production of its humanoid robot on its high-volume line in Fremont, California. Then he laid out what still needs work: the robot's hands, its safety, reliability, and durability, and the artificial intelligence needed to make it a productive tool. "There's […]The Verge · 22 Oct, 13:53
• Tesla stars Optimus robot production in California as profit falls 43%Tesla's revenue was flat and its expenses skyrocketed as it pressed the accelerator on its Optimus robots, AI, and autonomous driving.TechCrunch · 21 Oct, 21:33

In this story: Tesla · Elon Musk · Fremont · California

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