Part 4/14:
Transforming humanoid robotics involves recreating a supply infrastructure that simply doesn't exist. Actuators, motors, gearboxes, and electronics—key components—must be designed in-house. Musk recounts that Tesla has had to design every electric motor control from first principles because off-the-shelf options simply did not meet their demands.
This move toward vertical integration reflects Musk's philosophy: to reduce costs, control quality, and facilitate large-scale production. Tesla's experience producing millions of electric vehicles gives them a distinct advantage in undertaking similarly massive scaling for Optimus.