Tesla’s stock experienced a rise on Monday, buoyed by Elon Musk’s continued promotion of the potential value of the company’s humanoid robots.
Musk announced on X that Tesla plans to have “genuinely useful” humanoid robots in limited production for internal use in the coming year, with hopes for higher production for other companies by 2026. During Tesla’s annual meeting in April, he indicated that the Optimus robots would enter limited production in 2025, with expectations that over 1,000 units would be operational at Tesla by year’s end. Currently, two robots are on the factory floor, though Tesla has not disclosed their specific functions.
Musk has previously suggested that the introduction of these robots could significantly enhance the company’s market value, potentially adding $20 trillion. However, the robots are not expected to be sold until late 2025, with projected prices ranging between $20,000 and $30,000.
There remains some skepticism regarding Musk’s claims about the robots being “genuinely useful.” Past product demonstrations have faced criticism; for instance, a video released in May showing an Optimus robot folding a shirt was allegedly manipulated and involved human control off-screen.
Critics point out that Tesla has a history of dramatic presentations, recalling the controversial debut of the Optimus project in 2021, which featured a person in a robot costume dancing. MKM analyst Craig Irwin remarked that the ambitions for a sentient humanoid robot by 2025 seem unrealistic, especially when compared to established companies like Boston Dynamics, which are further along in robotics technology.
In addition to competition from Hyundai’s Boston Dynamics, Tesla faces rivals from Japan’s Honda and Apptronik. Chinese companies Dongfeng Motor and Nio are also testing humanoid robots developed by UBTech Robotics at their production sites, while BMW has been utilizing humanoid robots from Silicon Valley-based Figure in their operations since January.
Following Musk’s remarks, Tesla’s stock increased by more than 3% on Monday. The shares have remained relatively stable year-to-date after a significant recovery in recent months. Tesla is slated to report its second-quarter earnings on Tuesday, where Musk is expected to update investors on the anticipated robotaxi launch.