Tesla to Deploy Humanoid Robots Internally Next Year

On Monday, Tesla CEO Elon Musk claimed “low production” humanoid robots will be used internally next year, months beyond a 2024 launch commitment

Musk stated in a post that the automaker will “hopefully” have the robots in high production for other companies by 2026. This statement was made on the social media platform X.

Optimus, the Tesla robot, was announced by Musk in April to be capable of performing factory duties by the end of the year and could be available for purchase by the end of 2025.

Humanoid machines have been under development by Honda of Japan and Boston Dynamics of Hyundai Motor for several years. Companies are placing their faith in them to address potential labor shortages and complete repetitive tasks that may be hazardous or tiresome, such as logistics, warehousing, and manufacturing.

Musk has a history of failing to deliver his ambitious promises to Wall Street.

He informed investors 2019 that Tesla would be operating a network of autonomous vehicles known as “robotaxi” by 2020.
He indicated last week that the robotaxi’s unveiling would require additional time, stating that he had requested “a significant design modification” to the vehicle’s front.

Bumblebee, the initial iteration of Tesla’s Optimus automaton, was introduced in September 2022. The company released a video this year showcasing a second iteration of the bipedal robot folding a T-shirt at the company’s facility.

Musk has recently shifted his focus to the Optimus robot, robotaxis, autonomous driving software, and artificial intelligence in response to the decreasing demand for electric vehicles (EVs), which account for over 80% of Tesla’s quarterly revenue.

The results for the second quarter of Tesla are scheduled to be released on Tuesday. Wall Street anticipates that margins will reach a level that is more than five years lower than they have been. However, the primary focus will be on Musk’s ambitious AI and robotaxis product plans.

On Monday, Tesla shares experienced a premarket increase of approximately 1%.