Tesla struggles to hit weekly 20,000-unit target for Optimus robot

Tesla’s effort to mass-produce its Optimus humanoid robot is encountering significant manufacturing hurdles as it tries to meet a 20,000-per-week target. After repurposing its Model S and Model X production lines earlier this year, the firm managed only several hundred units in the most recent month, according to reports. The new production lines must handle far smaller components that must align with far tighter tolerances than automotive parts, leading to frequent snags.

Even the V3 robots still require manual assembly of hands and forearms, each comprising more than 100 screws and tiny parts. While the newer models are lighter and equipped with more cameras, they are missing a “sensing glove” intended to make touch-sensor maintenance easier. Tesla intends to lease the robots at first, gathering operational data to improve future versions before broader sales. Meanwhile, other robotics firms are moving toward less human-like designs, and Chinese regulators have begun restricting IPOs for humanoid-robot companies.