Tesla AI Boss Reveals How Big Optimus Is Going to Get

Ashok Elluswamy, Tesla's executive leading the Optimus humanoid robot program since June 2025, clarified on X that the company's long-term annual production target is 10 million robots.

What Happened

Elluswamy posted a three-word correction on X Thursday: 'Correction, 10 million robots.' The post clarifies the planned annual capacity Tesla is building toward with its second Optimus production line at Gigafactory Texas. The scale would mean Tesla producing more units annually than most countries sell in new cars. Tesla has framed this as a second production line, not the first. The buildout happens in two phases: an approximately one-million-unit-per-year line inside Tesla's Fremont factory, installed on floor space vacated when Model S and Model X production ended earlier this year, and a larger dedicated facility under construction at Giga Texas that broke ground on its first steel structure in May.

Why It Matters

The 10-million-unit target represents an extraordinary manufacturing ambition. Industry analysts note the current global humanoid robot market totals roughly 5,000 to 10,000 units annually—orders of magnitude below Tesla's stated goal. Skeptics point to past production shortfalls, including Cybertruck delays, as precedent for Musk's targets outpacing timelines. Elon Musk has estimated per-unit costs at $20,000 to $25,000 once production reaches one million units annually, though the cost structure at ten times that volume remains unspecified. For buyers and investors, this signals Tesla is committing substantial resources to position Optimus as a major revenue driver beyond vehicles.

The Bottom Line

Tesla's revised Optimus target of 10 million robots per year reflects aggressive scaling ambitions for its humanoid robot program under new leadership. Volume production at the Texas facility is expected sometime in 2027.