Tesla CEO Elon Musk has unveiled an ambitious plan for the company to begin the production and deployment of the humanoid robot, named Optimus, starting next year. Initially, these robots will be utilized to streamline operations within Tesla’s factories, but Musk has set his sights on a broader commercial release by 2026.
In a recent announcement via social media platform X, Musk outlined the timeline for Tesla’s humanoid robot initiative. “Tesla will have genuinely useful humanoid robots in low production for internal use next year and, hopefully, high production for other companies by 2026,” he stated.
The Optimus robots are expected to revolutionize various operational tasks within Tesla’s manufacturing facilities, potentially increasing efficiency and productivity. Musk’s vision extends beyond internal use, aiming to offer these robots to other businesses in the future.
The announcement comes amidst a backdrop of significant interest in humanoid robots, with other major tech companies like Honda and Boston Dynamics also developing similar technologies. Tesla’s move into this arena reflects the growing competitive landscape in the field of robotics.
In response to the announcement, Tesla’s stock experienced a notable surge, rising more than 5% on Monday. The company’s stock gains come ahead of the anticipated release of its financial results, signaling positive investor sentiment.
Musk’s ambition for the humanoid robots includes a target production cost of under $20,000 per unit. Despite his optimistic projections, Musk’s track record includes several ambitious timelines that have faced delays. Notably, he had previously predicted the launch of self-driving taxis by 2020. Although the robo taxi concept was unveiled on August 8th, it has since been postponed, with the latest update indicating a delay to October.
Adding to the ongoing developments, Musk has confirmed that the unveiling of Tesla’s robo taxi has been postponed to allow for additional features to be showcased. This follows a Bloomberg report indicating the shift in the event’s timeline.
As Tesla moves forward with its humanoid robot project, the industry will be closely watching how the company navigates the challenges of production and commercialization, potentially setting new standards in the field of robotics.
