Tesla's third-quarter 2025 earnings call spotlighted the Optimus humanoid robot, with CEO Elon Musk outlining ambitious timelines for its development. Despite mixed financial results, the company's stock rose 2.3% as investors focused on revenue growth and future robotics potential. Optimus was mentioned 36 times during the call, far outpacing discussions of the robotaxi service.
Tesla released its third-quarter 2025 results on Wednesday, reporting revenue of $28.1 billion, a 12% increase year over year that exceeded Wall Street estimates. However, adjusted earnings per share fell 31% to $0.50, missing expectations. The stock climbed 2.3% on Thursday, reflecting investor interest in long-term prospects over immediate earnings.
The call heavily featured Optimus, Tesla's AI-powered humanoid robot first announced at its AI Day in August 2021 and prototyped in 2022. "Optimus" appeared 36 times in discussions, compared to 10 mentions of "robotaxi," which saw a limited launch in Austin, Texas, this summer.
Elon Musk provided a timeline for Optimus: a version 3 prototype is targeted for unveiling in early 2026, likely in the first quarter. Production is slated to start toward the end of 2026 on a line capable of 1 million units annually. Musk noted challenges, including the robot's 10,000 unique components and the absence of a mature humanoid robot supply chain, necessitating Tesla's vertical integration.
Musk described Optimus as having "the potential to be the biggest product of all time," emphasizing Tesla's strengths in real-world AI from autonomous vehicles, exceptional electromechanical engineering, and scalable production. He stated: "People might think of Tesla as a car company that mostly makes cars and battery packs... but we do have the ingredients of real-world AI and exceptional electrical-mechanical engineering capabilities and the ability to scale production, which I don't think anyone else has all of those ingredients."
While Musk's optimism is notable, the article acknowledges competition from startups like Figure AI, backed by Nvidia, OpenAI, Microsoft, and Jeff Bezos, and established players such as Boston Dynamics' Atlas robot, 80% owned by Hyundai with a minority stake by SoftBank. At this stage, investing in Nvidia is suggested for broad exposure to the humanoid robot market.