Tesla has reportedly paused procurement and production plans for its humanoid robot, Optimus, due to unresolved hardware challenges, according to sources within China's supply chain network. The temporary suspension comes as Tesla's engineering team works to refine key technical components. The company intends to resume procurement only after optimizing the robot's design and confirming a revised mass production schedule.
The move casts fresh doubt on the readiness of humanoid robotics technology. Despite CEO Elon Musk's pledge to build 5,000 units by the end of 2025, the ambitious target now appears increasingly uncertain.
Parts orders suspended mid-June
Sources indicate that Tesla halted parts procurement roughly two weeks ago. While the company has not explicitly canceled existing orders, it has deferred further purchases until hardware revisions are finalized. The design recalibration phase is expected to span approximately two months.
As of the end of May 2025, Tesla had secured components sufficient to assemble 1,200 units of Optimus and had completed close to 1,000. However, with production now paused, industry insiders are skeptical that the year-end delivery target can be met.
Tesla tackles hardware hurdles
Current-generation Optimus units are grappling with several key hardware pain points. These include overheating in joint motors, limited lifespan in transmission mechanisms, and inadequate battery endurance.
In response, the company is testing samples from at least three suppliers of advanced robotic hands in hopes of boosting performance. Unlike the stiff grippers used in traditional industrial machines, humanoid robots require more fluid, lifelike manipulators—a technically complex area that remains a work in progress across the industry.
Optimus Gen-3 faces weight and efficiency trade-offs
The latest version of Tesla's Optimus robot features a major upgrade: a highly articulated hand with 22 degrees of freedom—five fingers with four joints each, plus two in the wrist.
Former Optimus engineering lead Milan Kovac previously disclosed that Tesla had overhauled the robot's drive system, shifting actuators to the forearm to enhance precision. But the move added extra weight, pushing the company to explore lighter materials. Tesla has also adopted a tendon-and-ball-screw transmission setup aimed at boosting efficiency and responsiveness in the robot's movements.
Leadership departures raise questions
Milan Kovac, the former head of engineering for Tesla's Optimus robot, left the company last month, citing family reasons. But the timing of his departure—just as Tesla paused parts procurement and began a major hardware redesign—has sparked speculation about internal disagreements over the robot's direction.
Kovac's exit is the latest in a wave of high-level departures at Tesla over the past six months, adding to the uncertainty surrounding the future of the Optimus project.
Industry view: High cost, low standardization
Sources within China's humanoid robotics supply chain report that the sector is still grappling with fundamental technical challenges. Most humanoid robots rely on proprietary, non-standardized components, driving up costs and complicating scalability.
Replicating human-like movement, from running and jumping to withstanding falls, places intense mechanical stress on robot joints. That demands high torque, strong power density, and long-lasting durability.
Current motor technologies are struggling to meet these requirements, with unresolved issues around heat dissipation, mechanical efficiency, and overall weight still hindering broader adoption.
Article edited by Jerry Chen
