Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla, hinted that the company’s humanoid robot, Optimus, could potentially hit the market for sale by the close of 2025, with expectations of being operational in factory settings by the end of this year. This announcement comes as several industries, including logistics, warehousing, retail, and manufacturing, are exploring the integration of humanoid robots to address labor shortages and handle repetitive or hazardous tasks.
While Tesla’s Optimus is still undergoing development in the lab, Musk expressed optimism about its readiness for commercialization during a recent investor conference call. Other players in the field, such as Japan’s Honda and Hyundai Motor’s Boston Dynamics, have been working on humanoid robots for years. Additionally, Microsoft and Nvidia-backed startup Figure announced a partnership with BMW to deploy humanoid robots in the automaker’s U.S. facilities.
Musk has previously suggested that robot sales could become a significant revenue stream for Tesla, potentially surpassing traditional car manufacturing. He emphasized Tesla’s advantageous position in terms of AI capabilities, foreseeing efficient production and deployment of the humanoid robots.
Despite ambitious projections, Musk’s track record of meeting such promises has been mixed. In the past, he forecasted the operation of a network of “robotaxi” autonomous cars by 2020, which did not materialize as anticipated.
Tesla introduced the first generation of its Optimus robot, named Bumblebee, in September 2022. Recently, the company showcased a second-generation version of the bipedal robot performing tasks such as folding T-shirts. Similarly, Figure unveiled its 01 robot making coffee, while Boston Dynamics revealed advancements in the mobility of its Atlas humanoid robot, transitioning from a lying down position to standing and walking.