Tesla began early production of its first production-quality Optimus humanoid robots on high-volume lines at the Fremont factory in late October 2026, repurposing space previously used for Model S and X vehicles. Elon Musk described the ramp as slow and bumpy due to ongoing work on hands, durability, reliability, and AI for open-ended tasks, targeting external deliveries around the end of 2027 after integrating the more powerful AI5 chip by April. An upcoming non-scripted demonstration video is expected within weeks, while internal training via an Optimus Academy aims to build useful data. These confirmed manufacturing milestones amid persistent engineering hurdles shape trader views on release timelines relative to historical delays and competing humanoid efforts.