Musk says Optimus humanoid robot will be rental-only, not for sale, with initial cost of about $30,000

Speaking at the Baron Investment Conference, Musk said Tesla's Optimus humanoid robot will likely be offered through leasing rather than direct sale. He disclosed an initial per-unit cost of about $30,000, dropping to about $20,000 after mass production; the Fremont factory has begun early mass production, with the line built for a scale of 1 million units per year, and external deliveries not expected until late 2027 at the earliest. The article also analyzes that the leasing model can generate ongoing rental and software maintenance revenue and let Tesla control robot operating data.