Tesla's 3rd-gen Optimus Humanoid Robot Debuts in Shanghai, Mass Production Version to Launch by End of Year

At the 2026 China Home Appliance and Consumer Electronics Expo, Tesla's third-generation Optimus humanoid robot made its first public appearance in China. On-site staff stated that this version is an official engineering prototype ready for mass production.

Tesla plans to start large-scale production of the robot by the end of 2026, with a long-term annual capacity target of 1 million units. After scaling up, the unit cost is expected to be under $20,000. Currently, a trial production line is operating at the Fremont factory in California, and a larger production line is under construction.

The third-gen Optimus has significantly improved dexterity, gait stability, and task execution compared to previous versions, capable of complex operations like grabbing, moving, and interacting.