Tesla’s vice president of Optimus robotics, Milan Kovac, has announced he is leaving the company after nearly ten years.
Kovac shared the news on social media platform X on Friday, thanking Tesla CEO Elon Musk for his trust and guidance.
“I want to thank Elon from the bottom of my heart for his teachings and support over the past decade,” Kovac wrote.
He said Musk taught him key engineering principles, resilience, and how to focus on what truly matters in innovation.
Kovac joined Tesla in 2016 and previously led the Autopilot software team before becoming head of the Optimus robot project in 2022.
Tesla’s Optimus robot is designed to be a two-legged, intelligent machine that could eventually perform tasks like babysitting or factory work.
The company said it plans to build Optimus robots at its Fremont facility by 2025, with plans for wider factory use later.
At Tesla’s recent annual shareholder meeting, Musk claimed these robots could eventually raise the company’s value to $25 trillion.
He added that Optimus is now being trained to carry out simple tasks like picking up objects or opening doors.
Other companies competing in the robotics space include Boston Dynamics, Agility Robotics, and Figure, among others.
While Tesla has not commented on Kovac’s departure, Musk thanked him for his “outstanding contributions” to the company.
Kovac’s exit marks a key leadership change as Tesla pushes forward with its ambitious robot programme in the years ahead.
