Why would Optimus plug a charging connector into a Robotaxi?

  • Tesla plans to use the Optimus humanoid robot to plug in and unplug charging connectors for Robotaxis as an interim measure before its fully automated wireless charging system formally enters service.
  • This task provides a specific proposed application for Optimus. Tesla also expects to resolve electromechanical, AI and reliability issues and begin external deliveries in 2027, initially prioritizing hazardous and repetitive industrial jobs.

How far has mass production progressed, and how much could output ramp up by year-end?

  • Tesla disclosed in its third-quarter earnings report that Optimus production has begun at its Fremont factory and that the first robots meeting mass-production standards have rolled off the line. The dedicated production line has a planned annual capacity of 1 million units, with a target of reaching 20 thousand units per week in 2027.
  • Based on orders placed, supply-chain checks and progress on construction of the Texas robot factory, Huafu Securities' Meng Pengfei expects Optimus weekly production to potentially ramp up to around 2000 units by year-end. This figure is an expected production ramp-up and is measured differently from the weekly capacity target for 2027.
  • The mass-production push remains constrained by hardware: dexterous-hand sensors, gears and electromechanical structures are the main bottlenecks at present. Tesla plans to integrate the AI-5 chip into the robots in April 2027 and collect training data through self-play involving 10 thousand to 20 thousand robots.

Demand for which components could change with the design?

  • Huafu Securities believes that, as the robot design is optimized, use of ball screws, which are less expensive and easier to maintain, could increase, including in the hands. For reducers, harmonic drives are the main option, while RV and other designs may serve as alternatives.
  • For structural components, the latest design may already use carbon-fiber composites for the limb frames. For the dexterous hands, cost and size considerations may lead the core hand modules to try a shift from coreless motors to miniature frameless torque motors. Related supply-chain opportunities depend on design choices and changes in usage.
  • Among the companies cited by Cailian Press, MOONS' Industries covers motion-control applications including dexterous hands, upper-limb joints and mobile bases. Its interim report shows that revenue related to robotics applications grew approximately 58% year on year. Leaderdrive has capabilities in the custom development, mass production and delivery of harmonic reducers.