20:33 21-01-2026

Tesla's Cybercab and Optimus robot production to start slowly

Tesla's robotaxi Cybercab and humanoid robot Optimus will have a slow initial production phase due to high complexity and new development, impacting Tesla's ambitious plans.

Tesla has adjusted expectations around its most ambitious projects. Elon Musk acknowledged that the initial production phase for the robotaxi Cybercab and the humanoid robot Optimus will be extremely slow, despite the company's grand plans.

Why the start will be so difficult

According to Musk, the speed of reaching production volumes depends directly on product complexity. With Cybercab and Optimus, nearly all components, processes, and manufacturing stages are being developed from scratch. This significantly slows the initial pace, as each new part and operation requires debugging, testing, and stabilization before scaling up.

What Cybercab and Optimus are

Cybercab is a fully autonomous two-seater vehicle with no steering wheel or pedals, designed exclusively for driverless operation. Tesla plans to begin its mass production in 2026. Optimus, meanwhile, is a humanoid robot that Musk considers a key element of the company's long-term strategy and potentially a more significant business than electric vehicles.

Context for Tesla and the market

A significant portion of Tesla's market capitalization is built on investor expectations specifically for autonomous technology and robotics. However, the company's current revenue still comes from electric vehicle sales. The slow start of these new ventures highlights the gap between long-term ambitions and the short-term reality of manufacturing.