Key metrics

Evidence ladder + tracking curves

This page keeps the S1-S5 proof ladder and operating curves. The overview page already carries the first-screen core metrics.

S1 → S5 evidence ladder

S1Demo

Capability appears in videos, labs, launches or one-off demos. Useful as a surface signal, but weak without task boundaries, duration and intervention disclosure.

S2Pilot

A robot enters an internal or customer trial, while paid status, robot count, contract scope, ROI and repeatability remain unclear.

S3Productization / cost access

Hardware, developer tools or robot software become accessible enough for broader experimentation. Lower access cost is not yet deployment economics.

S4Construction / early deployment

Customer sites, manufacturing systems, designed capacity or supplier filings produce measurable KPI. This is where current robotics evidence is strongest.

S5Return economics

Repeat paid deployments, customer ROI/payback, low intervention, recognized robot revenue and gross margin after service become visible.

Tesla / Leaderdrive tracking curves

Production / designed-capacity evidence

Tesla Optimus production curve

Latest public anchor: 2026 Q1 filing1M/year designed Fremont line; 10M/year long-term Texas designed line

Optimus moves from narrative to stronger evidence only when designed capacity converts into installed lines, actual output, accepted units, factory utilization, robot revenue or customer economics.

1
2025 Q1

Fremont pilot-line build intent

Pilot production-line intent

Tesla said it remained on track for Optimus builds on the Fremont pilot production line in 2025 and wider internal factory deployment.

Does not yet prove: No output, robot count, production rate or customer economics disclosed.

S3/S4
2
2025 Q3

Production lines being installed

Line-installation evidence

Tesla disclosed first-generation Optimus production lines were being installed in anticipation of volume production.

Does not yet prove: Installation does not equal achieved volume production, utilization or accepted deliveries.

S4
3
2025 Q4

Gen 3 mass-production design

1M/year eventual planned capacity language

Tesla described Gen 3 as its first Optimus design meant for mass production, with first production-line preparation and supply-chain readiness.

Does not yet prove: Planned capacity is not yield, unit cost, field reliability or sell-through.

S4
4
2026 Q1

Designed-capacity disclosure

Fremont 1M/year; Texas long-term 10M/year designed capacity

Tesla Q1 2026 update disclosed Fremont first-generation line designed for 1M robots/year and a Texas second-generation line designed for long-term annual capacity of 10M robots.

Does not yet prove: Designed capacity is not current production, accepted units, customer orders, revenue or profitability.

Strong S4

Update rule: Update when Tesla filings or primary Tesla disclosures add actual Optimus output, line status, deployed count, uptime/intervention, revenue, margin or designed-capacity changes.

Harmonic reducer sales / supplier filing evidence

Leaderdrive reducer shipment curve

Latest public anchor: 2025 annual report / 2026 Q1 follow-through425,158 harmonic reducers sold in 2025 (+72.48% YoY)

Leaderdrive is a useful public supplier tracker because filing-backed unit shipment and component-revenue data can show whether robotics demand is reaching upstream bottleneck suppliers.

1
2025 FY

Robot component revenue acceleration

RMB 422.528m robot / embodied-intelligence component revenue

Leaderdrive's 2025 annual report disclosed industrial and embodied-intelligence robot component revenue of RMB 422.528m, +52.61% YoY, with 34.88% gross margin.

Does not yet prove: Not humanoid-specific revenue and not a named humanoid OEM design win.

S4 filing
2
2025 FY

Harmonic reducer shipment jump

425,158 units sold (+72.48% YoY)

Leaderdrive disclosed harmonic reducer production of 433,655 units and sales of 425,158 units in 2025.

Does not yet prove: Unit sales do not disclose humanoid-specific customer mix, value content, margin durability or downstream ROI.

S4 filing
3
2026 Q1

Follow-through quarter

RMB 140.134m revenue; RMB 32.634m net profit

Leaderdrive's 2026 Q1 report disclosed revenue of RMB 140.134m (+42.96% YoY) and net profit of RMB 32.634m (+61.17% YoY).

Does not yet prove: Still no named humanoid OEM, contract value, order volume or humanoid-only margin disclosed.

S4 filing

Update rule: Update when Leaderdrive filings disclose reducer production/sales, industrial or embodied-intelligence component revenue, gross margin, named customers, humanoid-specific revenue split or order volume.