Tesla has torn down the original Model S and Model X assembly line at its Fremont factory, completing the decommissioning in 46 days and clearing the space for Optimus humanoid robot production1,2,3,4. The company released time-lapse footage on July 10, 2026, documenting the rapid changeover.
The Model S entered production at Fremont in June 2012, followed by the Model X in 2015. Production of both vehicles officially wound down around May 10, 2026. Tesla AI chief Ashok Elluswamy said Optimus has "big shoes to fill" following the line closure.
The Fremont site will host production of the third-generation Optimus, Tesla's humanoid robot. Elon Musk has publicly targeted 1 million units per year of annual Optimus capacity once the line is fully ramped. Reporting from The Robot Report and Assembly Magazine indicated the full conversion of the space to Optimus production lines is expected to take roughly four months from start to finish. Limited production on the converted Fremont line is expected to begin in late July or August 2026.
Over 1,000 Gen 3 Optimus units were operational on Tesla's Fremont production floor as of early 2026, according to The Robot Report. Those units were handling battery module assembly, EV pack loading, cable routing, and connector seating. Each Gen 3 Optimus contains roughly 10,000 unique parts. Tesla is standing up new production processes for actuators, hands, and structural components that have no direct analogue in EV manufacturing.
Musk said initial Optimus output will be "extremely slow". Early-access units in 2026 are expected to be priced at $50,000 to $80,000, with a long-term price target of $20,000 to $30,000 per unit. First external commercial deliveries of Optimus are expected in late 2026, with broader volume availability slated for 2027. Tesla expects to share first official production and pre-order figures for external Optimus units on its Q3 2026 earnings call.
Fremont will continue producing Model 3 and Model Y vehicles. Tesla has consistently maintained legacy vehicle service commitments for existing Model S and Model X owners.
ANALYSIS The 46-day teardown pace and four-month conversion timeline underscore the operational urgency Tesla is applying to the Optimus transition. ANALYSIS The gap between the stated 1-million-unit annual capacity target and Musk's own acknowledgment that initial output will be "extremely slow" frames a production ramp that will take years to validate.
The Fremont conversion follows other recent Tesla autonomy milestones. Tesla announced on July 11, 2026, that fully autonomous Cybercab rides for employees would begin at Gigafactory Texas, marking the first operational deployment of the steering-wheel-less vehicle on company grounds ctx.