Elon Musk has announced Tesla plans to begin production of humanoid robots for internal use next year.
The billionaire also revealed broader production for other companies is targeted for 2026.
Tesla, known for its electric vehicles, has been expanding into robotics and artificial intelligence.
Musk shared on X he believes the humanoid robots, dubbed Optimus, will be “genuinely useful” for tasks like enhancing car production efficiency, handling difficult chores, and mitigating labor shortages.
The announcement included a reminder of the prototype revealed in 2022.
This is a robot which could walk, wave, and perform basic dance moves untethered.
Musk also showcased a sleeker, nonfunctional model at the time, indicating it was closer to the final production design.
The humanoid robots leverage Tesla’s driverless car technology, which has excited some investors who see this as a step towards framing Tesla as an AI company.
Musk has a history of ambitious timelines that don’t always materialize.
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However, he said in an April earnings call that he expected Optimus to handle factory tasks by the end of the year and to be available for purchase by next year.
Musk said the initial production of the humanoid robots would be low-volume, with plans to scale up by 2026.
He aims to keep the robots’ price below $20,000 and include conversational capabilities and safeguards to prevent misuse.
As companies increasingly develop humanoid robots for tasks traditionally done by humans, Tesla’s entry into this market aligns with broader trends.
Some companies have already been using robots in warehouses to streamline logistics operations.
