Elon Musk said Tesla would probably rent out Optimus when Ron Baron asked on November 6 whether customers would rent or buy the humanoid robot. His answer at the Baron Investment Conference was brief.

“I think probably rent them.”

Elon Musk, in conversation with Ron Baron. Read the interview transcript.

Just before that exchange, Baron and Musk were talking about what it might cost Tesla to make a robot. Musk said the initial cost could be roughly comparable to building a car and come down over time. The $20,000 figure came up in that discussion about manufacturing costs. Musk gave no rental rate, start date or terms.

Tesla already says it has begun early production in Fremont. For a company weighing a trial, the next detail to watch is what a rental would cover. An hourly or monthly rate means something different if Tesla handles repairs, field support and replacement units.