Industry
Tesla workers balk at training Optimus humanoid robots as replacements
Tesla is shifting its focus from electric cars to producing the Optimus Gen‑3 humanoid robot, targeting 1,000 units per week by the end of 2026. Engineers report major difficulties with complex roboti
Tesla is shifting its focus from electric cars to producing the Optimus Gen‑3 humanoid robot, targeting 1,000 units per week by the end of 2026. Engineers report major difficulties with complex robotic hands and production line equipment, while Fremont workers are resisting training that would see them manage what they view as their replacements; this has prompted Tesla to pause Model S and X output and reallocate staff to Optimus development. Elon Musk has promoted Optimus as a potentially “biggest product ever” yet acknowledged that creating a versatile autonomous humanoid remains one of the hardest engineering challenges.
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Source: Ars Technica | 2026-09-25