Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla, announced on Monday that the company plans to deploy humanoid robots for internal use in its factories by next year.
This development comes months after Musk had initially projected a rollout by the end of 2024.
Tesla aims to begin "low production" of these robots, named Optimus, for internal company use in 2025, with aspirations for "high production" for other companies by 2026. Musk had previously stated in April that Optimus would be capable of performing tasks in the factory by the end of this year and could be available for sale by the end of 2025.
Humanoid robots have long been in development by companies such as Japan's Honda and Hyundai Motor's Boston Dynamics. These companies are investing in humanoid robots to address potential labor shortages and to undertake repetitive and potentially hazardous tasks in logistics, warehousing, and manufacturing.
Musk, however, has a track record of ambitious promises that often face delays. In 2019, he assured investors that Tesla would have a network of autonomous "robotaxi" cars operating by 2020. Recently, Musk indicated that the unveil of the robotaxi would be postponed, citing a significant design change to the vehicle's front.
Tesla introduced the first generation of its Optimus robot, called Bumblebee, in September 2022. This year, the company released a video showcasing the second generation of the bipedal robot performing tasks such as folding a T-shirt at a Tesla facility.
In recent months, Musk has shifted his focus towards artificial intelligence, autonomous driving software, robotaxis, and the Optimus robot, as demand for electric vehicles (which constitute over 80% of Tesla's quarterly revenue) has begun to wane.
Tesla is scheduled to report its second-quarter results on Tuesday. While Wall Street anticipates a more than five-year low in margins, attention will also be directed towards Musk's ambitious plans for robotaxis and AI products.
As of Monday morning, Tesla shares had risen by about one percent in premarket trading.