Tesla stars Optimus robot production in California as profit falls 43%
Tesla's revenue was flat and its expenses skyrocketed as it pressed the accelerator on its Optimus robots, AI, and autonomous driving.
Tesla has commenced production of its Optimus humanoid robot at its Fremont, California factory, marking a significant shift from its previous focus on electric vehicles. In its third-quarter letter to shareholders, the company announced that the robots produced on this line are the first to meet production standards. While the company plans to further refine the hardware and manufacturing process, it has confirmed that the current Optimus production process is viable for commercial use.
However, this forward-looking development did not contribute to a strong financial quarter for Tesla.
During the quarter, Tesla's revenue remained flat, while expenses surged due to the intense focus on Optimus robots, artificial intelligence, and autonomous driving. As a result, the company experienced a 43% decline in profits. Revenue was primarily driven by electric vehicle sales, which remained flat year-over-year at $20 billion.
Tesla delivered 486,532 vehicles in the third quarter, a modest increase of about 6,000 vehicles compared to the previous quarter but lower than the same period last year. Total revenue for the quarter amounted to $28.04 billion, slightly below the $28.09 billion generated in the third quarter of 2025. The company's revenue also fell about $200 million short of the $28.23 billion earned in the previous quarter.
Tesla's solar and energy storage business witnessed a 16% year-over-year decline, reaching $2.8 billion. This decline was attributed to customer refunds resulting from tariff-related issues. On a positive note, Tesla's services business, which includes subscriptions to its Full Self-Driving advanced driver-assistance software, grew by 33% year-over-year, generating $4.6 billion.
Despite these improvements, the company's overall profitability was heavily impacted by significant investments in AI projects and the Optimus robot production line. Tesla reported a net income of $787 million, a 43% decrease from the same period in 2025 when it earned $1.37 billion. Lower regulatory credit sales also contributed to the decline in profitability.
The company remained profitable, in part due to a substantial boost from its "services and other" segment, which recorded a record $734 million in gross profit for the quarter.
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