Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla, announced on the 22nd (local time) that the humanoid robot 'Optimus' currently under development will be deployed in factories next year and could be sold in 2026. Tesla's stock price rose more than 5% on the New York Stock Exchange.
On the same day, CEO Musk stated on X (formerly Twitter), "Tesla will conduct low production of truly useful humanoid robots next year for internal company use," adding, "We hope to mass-produce them for other companies by 2026."
This schedule is somewhat delayed compared to CEO Musk's statement during the conference call in April, where he said that deployment of 1,000 Optimus units in factories would be completed by the end of this year and external sales could begin by the end of next year. Currently, Tesla has two robots deployed, but it is not known what tasks they are performing.
Previously, Tesla first announced plans to start humanoid robot development in 2021. In October 2022, they showcased an Optimus prototype that waved to crowds and performed basic dance moves. A prototype was also unveiled at the end of September last year.
Following CEO Musk's mention of Optimus, Tesla's stock closed at $251.51 per share, up 5.15% from the previous close. Tesla's earnings report is also scheduled for the next day. The market currently expects second-quarter revenue to decline by 2% year-over-year. With already low earnings expectations, attention is focused on what CEO Musk will say the next day regarding humanoid robots, robotaxis, and autonomous driving technology. Previously, CEO Musk had expressed at the shareholders' meeting that Optimus could raise Tesla's market capitalization to $25 trillion.
The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported, "Humanoid robots have excited some investors," adding, "CEO Musk wants to define Tesla as an artificial intelligence (AI) company by showcasing robots and autonomous driving." However, the outlet also noted, "The timelines he has presented have not always been realized." Quartz reported, "It is unclear exactly what CEO Musk means by calling the robot 'genuinely useful.' Past product demonstrations were not very impressive," and stated that Tesla will have to compete not only with Hyundai Motor's Boston Dynamics but also with Japan's Honda and Apttronic.
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