Tesla will begin low production of humanoid robots for internal use next year, CEO Elon Musk announced on Monday. This update comes after Musk previously indicated that the rollout would occur by the end of 2024.
According to Musk’s social media post on platform X, the company aims to have these robots in high production for use by other companies “hopefully” by 2026. In April, Musk stated that the Tesla robot, named Optimus, would be capable of performing factory tasks by the end of this year, with potential sales beginning as early as the end of 2025.
Humanoid robots have been under development for several years by companies like Japan’s Honda and Hyundai Motor’s Boston Dynamics. These robots are anticipated to address labor shortages and undertake repetitive, hazardous, or tedious tasks in industries such as logistics, warehousing, and manufacturing.
Musk has a track record of making ambitious promises to Wall Street that often face delays. In 2019, he promised that Tesla would have a network of “robotaxi” autonomous cars by 2020, a pledge that remains unfulfilled.
Tesla introduced the first generation of its Optimus robot, named Bumblebee, in September 2022. This year, the company released a video showcasing a second-generation bipedal robot folding a T-shirt at its facility.
