Musk points to rentals rather than outright sales for Optimus
Automation
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Tesla could offer its Optimus humanoid robot through rentals rather than outright purchases. Speaking with Ron Baron at the 33rd Baron Investment Conference on November 6, 2026, Elon Musk indicated that renting the machines was the more likely option. His remarks were not a launch announcement for a finished commercial service.
A possible model, not a final sales decision
Asked whether Tesla would rent or sell the robots, Musk favoured the rental possibility. The qualification matters: his answer does not establish that Tesla has permanently ruled out sales.
Earlier Optimus robots in Stockholm, May 13, 2024. Archive photo: Ulf Klingström / Wikimedia Commons, public domain; cropped. These are not images of new production or rental units.
Manufacturing cost is not the customer price
The discussion included a potential initial manufacturing cost of around $30,000 per robot, declining toward $20,000 over time. Those figures should not be presented as a retail price or rental fee.
The exchange did not establish customer eligibility, maintenance responsibilities, contract terms or pricing. The defensible conclusion is that Musk favours a possible rental model, not that Tesla has definitively ruled out selling Optimus.
Sources: November 6 interview recording and transcript; Not a Tesla App. Photo and reuse information.
