March 22, 2025 | Austin, TX — In a recent all-hands meeting with Tesla employees, CEO Elon Musk revealed ambitious production plans for the company’s humanoid robot, Optimus. According to a report by MarketWatch, Musk stated that Tesla aims to produce approximately 5,000 Optimus robots by the end of 2025, with an eventual goal of ramping up to 50,000 units per year.
This announcement comes at a time when Tesla’s stock has experienced a sharp decline — down more than 40% since the beginning of the year — putting pressure on leadership to reinforce the company’s long-term strategy.
During the meeting, Musk encouraged employees to stay focused on Tesla’s mission and expressed strong confidence in the role Optimus could play in the company’s future. He described Optimus as a potentially “very significant part of Tesla’s future” and emphasized Tesla’s aim to “make a useful humanoid robot as quickly as possible.”
Musk also highlighted that the initial rollout of Optimus will happen internally. Tesla plans to use the robots in its own factories before expanding production and possibly offering the robots to the broader public.
The production goal announcement appears to be part of a broader push to reinvigorate internal morale and public confidence. As reported by Investor’s Business Daily, Musk told employees to “hang onto your stock,” implying that those who stay committed to Tesla’s long-term vision could benefit once the market stabilizes.
Tesla’s push into robotics is not new. The Optimus robot, first revealed at Tesla’s AI Day in 2021, has been in development with limited public demonstrations. However, the recent focus on manufacturing scale suggests the company is preparing to shift from concept to practical deployment.
This move comes as Tesla navigates a wave of industry headwinds, including intensified EV competition, ongoing scrutiny over its autonomous driving software, and a major Cybertruck recall involving more than 46,000 units.
Despite these setbacks, Musk remains publicly optimistic. While he did not make specific public remarks following the internal meeting, his recent communications signal that Tesla is betting heavily on AI and robotics to shape its next decade of innovation.
Whether Tesla can meet its ambitious production targets — and prove that Optimus can deliver meaningful value beyond factory use — remains to be seen. But one thing is clear: Tesla is not backing down from its vision of a robot-powered future.