Elon Musk has said that Tesla may begin selling its humanoid robot Optimus to external customers by the end of 2027. He made the statement during his appearance at the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, where he discussed the role of robotics and artificial intelligence in future industrial production.
According to Musk, Optimus robots are already performing simple tasks inside Tesla factories. These internal deployments are intended to validate reliability and safety before the robot is introduced outside Tesla’s own operations. Musk said the scope of tasks is expected to expand during 2026, with the robot taking on more complex work as the system matures.
Musk described the possible 2027 sales start as conditional. He emphasized that commercial availability depends on meeting safety and performance requirements and on Tesla’s ability to scale production. He noted that manufacturing volumes are likely to ramp up gradually, reflecting the technical and operational challenges of producing a general-purpose humanoid robot.
At Davos, Musk positioned Optimus as a system designed to handle physical tasks that are repetitive, physically demanding, or otherwise unsuitable for human workers. He did not provide details on pricing, customer segments, or technical specifications, focusing instead on timing and the broader implications of large-scale humanoid robot deployment.
If Tesla proceeds with sales in 2027, Optimus would represent one of the earliest attempts to commercialize humanoid robots at scale by a major industrial company. Musk framed the potential launch as part of Tesla’s longer-term strategy to expand beyond electric vehicles, while noting that significant uncertainty remains around timelines and execution.
