During Tesla's Q3 2025 earnings conference call on October 22, 2025, Elon Musk linked his proposed $975 billion pay package to maintaining control over the company's Optimus robot development. He expressed discomfort with building a 'robot army' without strong influence at Tesla. Musk also outlined ambitious production timelines for the Optimus V3 humanoid robot.
Tesla released its Q3 2025 earnings results on October 22, 2025, accompanied by a conference call where CEO Elon Musk addressed various topics, including the company's humanoid robot project, Optimus. Musk quipped that he 'doesn't feel comfortable building a robot army' without significant influence within Tesla, tying this sentiment to a shareholder vote on his increased pay package. The package, if approved, would grant him $975 billion in shares, enhancing his voting power in the company.
Musk's comments came amid discussions on Optimus progress. He announced that Tesla will unveil Optimus version 3 in Q1 2026, describing it as so realistic that 'it won't even seem like a robot. It'll seem like a human in a robot suit.' He highlighted the new hand as 'an incredible piece of engineering' and stated a production-intent prototype will be shown in February or March 2026. The company aims to build a 1 million unit production line, with production starting by the end of 2026. Future versions include Optimus 4 targeting 10 million units.
Tesla has already begun installing first-generation Optimus production lines, marking a milestone in AI robotics manufacturing. Earlier, in April 2024, the company claimed volume production could begin that year, though demos have shown progress in situations like the Tron: Ares debut. These updates underscore Tesla's commitment to robotics, but Musk's pay package remarks have raised concerns about potential antagonism toward shareholders.
The earnings call also touched on broader ambitions, but Optimus dominated discussions on future growth in automation and AI.