Inside Tesla’s New Plan to Have Humanoid Robots in 2025
Elon Musk has said that his U.S-based electric vehicle manufacturer will start using Tesla humanoid robots in 2025.
In a post shared on his X account, Musk said, “Tesla will have genuinely useful humanoid robots in low production for Tesla internal use next year and, hopefully, high production for other companies in 2026.”
Reuters reported that in April, Musk had said its humanoid robot, Tesla Optimus would perform tasks in the company by the end of 2023 and could be available in the market by the end of next year. In 2023, Tesla unveiled a new generation of humanoid robot, Optimus Gen 2.
Rich Background
For several years now, leading companies in Japan have developed humanoid robots. These companies include Hyundai and Honda Motors. Businesses are increasingly betting on internal humanoid robots to bridge labor shortages and perform tedious dangerous tasks or repetitive in nature. Such tasks include warehousing, logistics, and manufacturing.
Tesla launched Optimus in September 2022. At the time, it was named Bumblebee. This year, the electric vehicle maker shared a video of its humanoid robot, Tesla Optimus Gen 2 bipedal robot performing a task – folding a T-shirt within Tesla’s facility.
In recent months, Musk has pivoted Tesla’s focus on autonomous driving software, artificial intelligence, robotaxis, and humanoid robots amidst dropping demand for electric vehicles. Electric vehicles contribute over 80% of Tesla’s revenue.
Unfulfilled Promises
Even as Musk says Tesla will have humanoid robots for internal use in 2025, the announcement comes in the backdrop of unfulfilled investor promises. In 2019, the EV manufacturer CEO told investors that his company will be operating autonomous cars by 2020.
This didn’t happen. Earlier this year, Musk said Tesla would launch robotaxis in August. Last week, Musk said this will take longer following critical design changes that he has requested to the front part of the design.
Tesla is set to release its quarter two earnings today. It’s earning will help investors to understand what Musk and EV company are doing to restore growth following reporting the biggest revenue drop since 2012 in quarter one of this year.
Investor Focus
Institutional investors are more focused on the health of Tesla’s motor vehicle margins. Their attention is also on Tesla’s operating costs after the EV maker implemented layoffs, price cuts, and other incentives to boost EV sales.
Retail investors expect Musk to explain Tesla’s progress in self-driving technology and provide answers to the delayed unveiling of its dedicated robotaxi, CyberCab. Investors will want to know more about Tesla’s outlook of the battery energy storage business and its near-term priorities. They also expect to get an update of the status of the new factory that the EV company promised to set up in Monterrey, Mexico.
On Monday, Tesla shares were up 1%. Analysts expect Tesla to announce a 62 cent per share earnings adjustment on its $24.77 billion revenue for the period ended June 30.
