Tesla Optimus Waitlist Expected In December

Tesla is expected to open customer reservations for its Optimus humanoid robot in early December, according to robotics investor Modar Alaoui. The waitlist would mark the first time consumers can join a queue for the unproven technology. Units are not expected to ship for at least another year, giving buyers time to save for the estimated cost of more than $20,000 per unit.

The price point and timeline align with Tesla’s strategy to turn the robot into a major revenue stream. In January, CEO Elon Musk announced that the company would halt production of its Model X and Model S vehicles. The parts of the Fremont factory previously used for those cars are now being converted to manufacture Optimus robots. Musk confirmed on the company’s October earnings call that production has already started at that facility.

Alaoui, who runs the Humanoids Summit, said Tesla informed him that reservations will launch around the time of his conference. The event is scheduled for December 1 and 2 in San Mateo. Tesla is a key partner for the summit and plans to demo the Optimus V3 model there. The V3 will be the first shipment to customers, as previous generations were primarily prototypes. It remains unclear if a deposit is required to secure a spot on the list.

Musk appeared to contradict the timeline on Friday afternoon when he posted the word “No” on X in response to questions about a December waitlist. Tesla did not respond to requests for comment regarding the discrepancy. While Musk denied the specific date, he acknowledged on the earnings call that the robot still faces issues with its AI, electromechanical design, and runtime. He expects those problems to be solved by the end of 2027, which is when he anticipates delivering Optimus to companies outside of Tesla.

The company aims to produce 20,000 robots per week by the end of 2027. Musk has stated that Tesla needs to build between 10,000 and 20,000 units to gather enough data to train the robots for complex home tasks. These include chores that are difficult for machines because every environment looks different and requires accounting for the movements of humans and animals.

Competitors are also moving into the market. Palo Alto-based 1X opened reservations for its $20,000 robot last year but has not delivered any units yet. German firm Neura Robotics and U.K. company Humanoid have similar waitlists. Chinese companies have begun delivering humanoids to domestic customers, though their capabilities are limited. Boston Dynamics and San Jose’s Figure have not yet created public waitlists.

Most Optimus units will be sold to businesses for use in warehouses, assembly lines, and package sorting facilities. A smaller number will be set aside for individual consumers. The company has accepted reservations for its Roadster car for a decade, with buyers paying more than $50,000, but no deliveries have been made so far.