Tesla has officially entered a new phase in its humanoid robotics ambitions.
Construction is now underway for Tesla’s dedicated Optimus factory at Gigafactory Texas, a massive new facility designed specifically for large-scale production of the company’s humanoid robot program. Recent drone footage from Giga Texas observer Joe Tegtmeyer confirmed that the first steel structure has already been erected at the site, signaling the official beginning of what could become one of Tesla’s most important projects of the decade.
The new factory is part of Tesla’s expanding North Campus development at Gigafactory Texas and represents a major investment in the future of AI-powered robotics.
Table of Contents
- First Steel Structure Now Standing at Optimus Factory Site
- Tesla Plans to Produce 10 Million Optimus Robots Per Year
- Gigafactory Texas North Campus Expansion Continues
- Fremont Factory Will Launch Initial Optimus Production
- Tesla Faces Massive Challenges Ahead
- Why the Optimus Factory Matters for Tesla’s Future
- 2027 Could Become a Defining Year for Tesla
First Steel Structure Now Standing at Optimus Factory Site
According to drone footage released on May 27, construction crews have officially started vertical development on the Optimus production facility.
The first steel columns and beams are now in place, while additional structural materials continue arriving daily. Tesla is also actively expanding the land reclamation phase around the site to support the enormous scale of the project.
Once completed, the Optimus factory is expected to stretch nearly the same length as the main Gigafactory Texas building itself, although slightly narrower by approximately 50 to 70 meters. That would make the new structure one of the largest humanoid robot manufacturing facilities ever attempted.
Foundation work is simultaneously progressing across multiple sections of the site, highlighting Tesla’s aggressive construction timeline.
Big news at the new Optimus 10m/y factory construction site today! The 1st steel structure has been erected & as expected the second phase of land reclamation is underway.
— Joe Tegtmeyer 🚀 🤠🛸😎 (@JoeTegtmeyer)
This will allow this new factory to grow to nearly the same length as the main Giga Texas factory,… pic.twitter.com/FidRLV6XpU
Tesla Plans to Produce 10 Million Optimus Robots Per Year
Perhaps the most shocking detail is Tesla’s long-term production target.
Elon Musk has repeatedly stated that Tesla aims to eventually manufacture up to 10 million Optimus robots annually at the Texas facility. That figure translates to roughly 27,000 robots per day once full-scale production ramps up.
If achieved, the scale would dramatically surpass anything currently seen in the humanoid robotics industry.
Musk has described Optimus as potentially “the biggest product ever” and believes it could become more valuable than Tesla’s entire vehicle business in the future.
The company views humanoid robots as a massive long-term market opportunity, with potential applications ranging from factory automation and logistics to home assistance and industrial labor.
Gigafactory Texas North Campus Expansion Continues
The Optimus factory is only one part of Tesla’s broader North Campus expansion at Gigafactory Texas.
The overall project is expected to add more than 5.2 million square feet of industrial space to the site. Tesla is simultaneously developing several advanced facilities in the area, including a Terafab dedicated to next-generation AI chip manufacturing and advanced production systems.
Drone footage also shows extensive staging areas being prepared nearby, including Tesla’s newly developed “lone tree” field logistics zone where steel structures and construction materials are currently being organized.
The rapid pace of development highlights Tesla’s ability to move large-scale industrial projects forward quickly once approvals and planning are finalized.
Fremont Factory Will Launch Initial Optimus Production
While the Texas facility remains under construction, Tesla is already preparing early-stage Optimus manufacturing elsewhere.
The company previously ended production of the Model S and Model X at portions of its Fremont, California facility to create space for initial Optimus production lines.
According to current expectations, limited production of Optimus robots could begin as early as July or August this year.
These first-generation units will primarily support internal Tesla factory operations while engineers gather real-world performance data and refine manufacturing processes.
The dedicated Texas Optimus factory will eventually serve as Tesla’s second-generation high-volume production system, with larger-scale output targeted for Summer 2027.
Tesla Faces Massive Challenges Ahead
Despite the excitement surrounding the project, Tesla still faces enormous technical and manufacturing challenges.
Building millions of humanoid robots annually requires an entirely new global supply chain for components like actuators, sensors, electric motors, batteries, and AI computing systems.
Tesla must also continue improving Optimus software and autonomy capabilities to ensure robots can safely and reliably perform useful real-world tasks.
Current versions of Optimus are reportedly already completing small internal tasks at Tesla facilities, but scaling those capabilities into a globally deployable product remains a significant hurdle.
The company’s total investment in Optimus development and production infrastructure could eventually reach several billion dollars.
Why the Optimus Factory Matters for Tesla’s Future
The Optimus factory represents much more than another manufacturing expansion.
For Tesla, this project signals a strategic shift beyond electric vehicles into AI-driven robotics and autonomous systems. While Tesla remains one of the world’s leading EV manufacturers, the company increasingly positions itself as an artificial intelligence and automation business.
If Optimus succeeds commercially, it could fundamentally reshape Tesla’s future revenue model and market valuation.
The visible construction progress at Gigafactory Texas suggests Tesla is fully committed to making humanoid robotics a core pillar of the company’s next growth phase.
2027 Could Become a Defining Year for Tesla
With construction officially underway, Tesla’s Optimus factory now moves from concept to physical reality.
The next two years will likely determine whether Tesla can successfully scale humanoid robot manufacturing into a commercially viable industry.
If the company achieves even a fraction of its long-term production goals, the Optimus project could become one of the most significant industrial expansions in modern tech manufacturing.
For now, the first steel structure rising at Gigafactory Texas marks the beginning of what may become Tesla’s most ambitious factory project yet.
