Tesla’s stock experienced a surge on Monday as CEO Elon Musk continues to highlight the potential of the company’s humanoid robots. Musk stated on X that Tesla aims to produce “genuinely useful” humanoid robots for internal use by next year, with plans for larger production for external clients by 2026.
During a shareholders meeting in April, Musk communicated that the robots, known as Optimus, would shift into limited production in 2025, projecting that over 1,000 units could be operational at Tesla by that year. Currently, two prototypes are on the factory floor, though the specific tasks they perform have not been disclosed.
Musk has been optimistic about the financial impact, previously noting that these robots could potentially add $20 trillion to the company’s market value. The robots are not expected to be available for sale until late 2025, with a projected price range of $20,000 to $30,000 each.
Despite these ambitions, there is skepticism surrounding Musk’s claims of the robots being “genuinely useful.” Criticism has arisen from past demonstrations, such as a video in which an Optimus appeared to fold a shirt, allegedly being operated by a person off-screen. The company’s promotional tactics have drawn comparisons to earlier stunts, including the revelation of the Optimus project in 2021, which featured a performer in a robot costume.
Analyst Craig Irwin of MKM expressed doubts about Tesla’s timeline, suggesting that achieving a sentient humanoid robot by 2025 seems unrealistic compared to the advancements made by established competitors like Boston Dynamics. Other companies, such as Honda and Apptronik, are working on similar humanoid projects, while Chinese brands like Dongfeng Motor and Nio, as well as BMW, are testing robots from various developers in their operations.
Tesla’s stock rose over 3% following Musk’s latest comments. So far this year, the stock has remained relatively flat, although it has made significant gains in the past two months. Tesla is set to report its second-quarter earnings on Tuesday, where Musk will likely provide updates on the anticipated robotaxi launch.