Tesla CEO Elon Musk warns investors that early production of the Cybercab robotaxi and Optimus humanoid robot will be slow due to the complexity of new parts and steps involved. Despite ambitious targets, Musk anticipates a gradual ramp-up in production speed. Tesla is set to report fourth-quarter earnings soon, with Cybercab production starting in April and Optimus production not expected to ramp up until 2027 or later. The cautious tone comes amidst Tesla’s down year-to-date performance and increased competition from Chinese EV maker BYD.

Tesla faced sales challenges in 2025, falling short of Wall Street expectations with 1.64 million deliveries. Fourth-quarter deliveries missed estimates, with Chinese rival BYD surpassing Tesla in global EV sales. Musk’s political activities and endorsements negatively impacted Tesla’s brand reputation and sales. Despite operational struggles, investor excitement remains high for Musk’s vision of robotaxis and humanoid robots. Analysts have mixed opinions on Tesla’s stock price target, with Mizuho raising it to $530 while investor Michael Burry criticizes the company’s valuation.

Read more at Barchart: Elon Musk Warns of Slow Cybercab, Optimus Production. What Does That Mean for the TSLA Stock Bull Case?