Optimus Robots To Plug In Tesla Robotaxis Until Wireless Charging

Optimus Robots To Plug In Tesla Robotaxis Until Wireless Charging

Tesla’s Robotaxis can autonomously drive to a Supercharger, but they still require someone to connect the charging cable. Tesla now plans for Optimus to handle that task.

In a recent interview with Munro Live, Tesla VP of Vehicle Engineering Lars Moravy and Cybercab lead Eric Earley said the company intends to use its Optimus humanoid robots to plug in Robotaxis while it develops a more automated wireless charging system. “Hopefully, Optimus will help us with that shortly,” they said.

Humans Are Doing the Job for Now

Right now, Tesla is charging its driverless Robotaxis by hand. A recent video from an Austin Supercharger showed a Tesla employee plugging in Cybercabs and Model Y robotaxis as they arrived, and even moving some vehicles that hadn’t parked close enough to the stall.

Superchargers are the Cybercab’s only option for now, since it doesn’t support AC charging. That’s why it still has a NACS charge port hidden in the rear bumper. During the interview, Moravy and Earley explained that they kept a charge port because Cybercabs need to use the charging infrastructure already in place, at least for now.

Wireless Charging Is Still the Goal

Optimus is meant to be a stopgap. Tesla says it’s working on more automated charging as it builds out new infrastructure, and the Cybercab is already built to support it. Tesla won FCC approval for wireless Cybercab charging earlier this year, and it’s planning an Austin Robotaxi hub with 80 wireless chargers. Once that system is ready, neither a human nor Optimus will need to plug the cars in.

Don’t expect that to happen right away, though. Tesla only recently began early Optimus production at its Fremont factory, with the first deliveries to corporate customers planned for 2027. Even if Optimus robots start working at Robotaxi charging sites before then, the timeline suggests wireless Cybercab charging probably won’t arrive next year, and it could take Tesla even longer to get right.

Robots Were Always Part of the Plan

Tesla has long planned to use robots in its Robotaxi service. The company previously showed off a car-cleaning robot and has already started installing them at Robotaxi hubs, where the fleet will dock for charging and routine maintenance between trips. However, this is the first time Tesla has mentioned using Optimus in the Robotaxi workflow.

Asked whether Optimus would help service the fleet, the pair said it “might service the car, might add in the delivery space.” They also pointed to Cybercab, Optimus, and Robovan as harbingers of physical AI, saying “that trifecta will be incredible.”

For now, Tesla employees will keep plugging in Robotaxis by hand. Once Optimus starts showing up at Superchargers, the next step will be deploying wireless charging across Tesla’s Robotaxi markets.