Tesla is reportedly behind on its pledge to build 5,000 Optimus bots this year

Tesla is significantly behind its goal to produce at least 5,000 Optimus humanoid robots in 2025, having manufactured only a few hundred units by mid-year, according to two sources. This shortfall suggests Tesla will either need to accelerate production substantially or delay its target. The lag comes amid broader financial challenges for Tesla, including a reported decline in second-quarter earnings driven by falling electric vehicle sales, reduced regulatory credit income, and lower solar and energy storage revenues. Despite the current production delays, CEO Elon Musk reaffirmed Tesla’s long-term ambitions for the Optimus robot during the recent Q2 earnings call, announcing plans to begin production of the latest Optimus 3 model by early 2026. Musk expressed confidence in scaling production rapidly, aiming to reach one million units annually within five years. However, Musk’s history of optimistic timelines—such as previous unfulfilled projections about Tesla’s autonomous vehicle fleet—suggests that these targets may face similar challenges in realization.