Musk’s Humanoid Robots: The Future of Tesla or Just Hype?

Tesla’s stock experienced an increase on Monday as Elon Musk continued to highlight the potential value of the company’s humanoid robots. Musk stated on X that Tesla plans to have genuinely useful humanoid robots in low production for internal use next year, with hopes for higher production aimed at other companies by 2026.

Earlier in April, Musk informed shareholders during Tesla’s annual meeting that the Optimus robots would go into limited production in 2025, expecting over 1,000 units operational at Tesla by the end of that year. Currently, two robots are on the factory floor, but the company has not disclosed their specific functions.

Musk also suggested that the robots could significantly boost Tesla’s market capitalization by adding an estimated $20 trillion. However, these robots are not expected to be available for sale until late 2025, with prices projected to range between $20,000 and $30,000.

There remains some ambiguity regarding Musk’s assertion that the robots will be “genuinely useful.” Previous demonstrations have raised doubts; for instance, in May, Tesla faced criticism for showcasing a video of an Optimus robot folding a shirt, which was reportedly controlled by a person off-camera.

Tesla has a history of employing theatrical presentations for its robotic projects, famously introducing the Optimus robot in 2021 with a dancer inside a costume.

MKM analyst Craig Irwin expressed skepticism on Yahoo Finance, questioning the feasibility of launching a sentient humanoid robot by 2025 and noting that Tesla’s current demonstrations seem outdated compared to competitors like Boston Dynamics.

In addition to Hyundai’s Boston Dynamics, Tesla will also compete against Japan’s Honda and Apptronik. Chinese companies Dongfeng Motor and Nio are testing humanoid robots by UBTech Robotics on their production lines, while BMW has incorporated humanoid robots from Silicon Valley-based Figure in its operations since January.

Following Musk’s remarks, Tesla’s stock climbed more than 3% on Monday. Shares have remained relatively stable year-to-date, having recently recovered significantly over the past two months.

Tesla will release its second-quarter earnings on Tuesday, during which Musk is expected to provide an update on the delayed robotaxi launch.

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