Elon Musk’s Tesla earnings calls are now AI and robotics presentations with a side of cars

Seven years of Tesla earnings calls tell a story that has very little to do with selling cars. An analysis of Musk’s commentary across quarterly reports reveals a CEO increasingly disinterested in the core automotive business, instead treating each call as a showcase for AI ambitions and humanoid robots. The Q2 2026 earnings call on July 22 made this pivot about as subtle as a sledgehammer. Musk declared the Optimus humanoid robot could be “the biggest product ever” for Tesla, a company that, last anyone checked, was still primarily known for electric vehicles. From Frunks to Frankenbots Tesla’s strategic reallocation isn’t just talk. The company discontinued production of Model S and Model X at its Fremont factory back in January 2026. The reason wasn’t declining demand or a factory upgrade for newer EVs. It was to repurpose the facility for manufacturing the Optimus V3 humanoid robot, expected to begin production this summer. The Optimus V3 stands 5’8″ and weighs 125 lbs, powered by Tesla’s AI5 chip and xAI’s Grok model. Tesla plans to spend an estimated $25 billion in capital expenditures on AI and robotics in 2026. The xAI connection and what it means for markets Tesla has inve...