I not too long ago spent a while on the Tesla retailer in Adelaide, probably the most current additions to the native lineup. The showroom is at the moment taking part in host to a critical line-up of tech, together with the brand new Mannequin 3, Mannequin Y, Powerwall 3, and the crowd-favourite Cybertruck.
However the true star of the present for me was the Optimus humanoid robotic, which is making certainly one of its first public appearances on Australian soil.
Assembly Optimus within the flesh
This was my first time seeing Tesla’s Optimus robotic in individual, and the extent of element is frankly staggering when you find yourself standing proper in entrance of it.
The unit on show is the Era 2 mannequin, which received’t really be the one which hits the manufacturing line; that honour is reserved for Model 3.
Even so, seeing the Gen 2 up shut provides you a large appreciation for the engineering hurdles Tesla has already cleared.
The show stand is designed for present, however in the event you look carefully in the back of the robotic, you may see the small lip the place the charging interface connects.
One factor that instantly caught me off guard was the peak, as Optimus is considerably taller than I had imagined from watching the keynote movies.
Tesla has beforehand promoted the bot as being succesful however not giant sufficient to trigger critical harm if it had been to unintentionally fall on an individual.
In actuality, it stands at 173cm tall, and whereas I’ve a good bit of peak on it at 192cm, it nonetheless seems like a really substantial presence within the room.
Pleasant design meets critical engineering
Despite the fact that the robotic was in a disabled state for the show, it doesn’t really feel chilly or industrial just like the robots you see in automobile manufacturing vegetation.
The shiny faceplate and the fabric-covered shoulders give it a surprisingly snug and pleasant aesthetic that wouldn’t really feel misplaced in a house.
Once you have a look at the legs and arms, the mixing of the actuators is significantly spectacular, mimicking the human type issue with unimaginable precision.
It’s simple to take a look at this and see a path the place these robots turn into as frequent because the automobile in your driveway or the cellphone in your pocket.
The chance for a tool like this to alter the best way we deal with mundane duties at work and at house is completely large.
“I feel Optimus can be extra beneficial than every little thing else mixed. When you have a humanoid robotic that’s able to doing something you are able to do, there is no such thing as a restrict to the scale of the economic system.”
Elon Musk, CEO, Tesla.
Cybertruck and the Tesla ecosystem
Whereas Optimus took most of my consideration, the Cybertruck continues to be a large drawcard for the Adelaide retailer and for good cause.
This is likely one of the solely locations in Australia the place you may really get hands-on with the stainless-steel beast and see its scale for your self.
It isn’t formally accessible for buy in Australia simply but, however having it right here offers a uncommon preview of what our future street panorama would possibly seem like.
Like it or hate it, the design is not like the rest on the street, and the construct high quality of the show items feels extremely sturdy.
The sheer presence of the car within the showroom is a testomony to Tesla’s willingness to throw out the normal automotive rulebook.
Powerwall 3 and the house battery revolution
Transferring over to the vitality facet of the enterprise, the Powerwall 3 was additionally on show, representing the most recent in house vitality storage know-how.
The Powerwall 3 is now accessible in Australia, that includes an built-in photo voltaic inverter which makes for a a lot cleaner and extra environment friendly set up.
Pricing for the Powerwall 3 in Australia begins at roughly A$11,900 for the {hardware}, although the full price together with the Gateway and set up usually lands round A$18,000.
“The Cheaper House Batteries Program has been an unprecedented success. This system has introduced down the price of putting in a photo voltaic linked battery.”
Chris Bowen, Minister for Local weather Change and Power, Australian Authorities.
The success of house storage in Australia has been nothing wanting explosive because the introduction of the Cheaper House Batteries Program final yr.
The unique A$2.3 billion funds was so standard that the federal government not too long ago needed to develop the funding to A$7.2 billion to maintain up with demand.
Within the second half of 2025 alone, over 184,000 batteries had been put in throughout the nation, including a large 4.27 GWh of storage to the nationwide grid. An enormous shift is going on proper now, because the federal rebate transitions to a tiered system from 1 Might 2026 to encourage right-sized battery installations.
Below the present guidelines till April, you may nonetheless seize roughly A$336 per kWh of usable capability, which is a major chunk of change for early adopters. The main focus for a lot of Australians has shifted from merely saving cash on payments to reaching real vitality independence as feed-in tariffs proceed to drop.
The present Australian line-up
After all, the showroom nonetheless options the heavy hitters that you may really drive house at present, particularly the Mannequin 3 and the Mannequin Y.
The Mannequin 3 Highland refresh stays a benchmark for electrical sedans, beginning at A$54,900 plus on-road prices for the Rear-Wheel Drive variant.
When you want more room, the Mannequin Y continues to be the king of the electrical SUV section in Australia, ranging from A$58,900 plus on-roads.
Tesla has additionally not too long ago moved to a five-year, unlimited-kilometre guarantee for all new autos delivered in Australia from the beginning of 2026.
This can be a welcome transfer for the native market and brings them according to lots of the legacy producers providing comparable peace of thoughts.
Spending time on the Adelaide retailer makes it clear that Tesla is not only a automobile firm, however a full-scale robotics and vitality agency.
Seeing these applied sciences co-existing in a single area makes the transition to a sustainable, automated future really feel quite a bit nearer than it did yesterday.
For extra data, head to https://www.tesla.com/en_au
Referral: If you wish to assist techAU and are shopping for a Tesla, please use the next hyperlink – https://ts.la/jason45054
Elevate your perspective with NextTech Information, the place innovation meets perception.
Uncover the most recent breakthroughs, get unique updates, and join with a world community of future-focused thinkers.
Unlock tomorrow’s tendencies at present: learn extra, subscribe to our publication, and turn into a part of the NextTech group at NextTech-news.com
