Tesla’s stock experienced an uptick on Monday, following Elon Musk’s continued emphasis on the potential of the company’s humanoid robots.
In a post on X, Musk stated, “Tesla will have genuinely useful humanoid robots in low production for Tesla internal use next year and, hopefully, high production for other companies in 2026.”
During Tesla’s annual meeting in April, Musk indicated that the Optimus robot would enter limited production by 2025, with an expectation that over 1,000 units would be operational by year-end. Currently, two robots are already on the factory floor, although Tesla has not disclosed their specific functions.
Musk previously suggested that the introduction of these robots could potentially add $20 trillion to the company’s market value. However, the robots are not anticipated to hit the market before late 2025, and they are expected to retail between $20,000 and $30,000.
The precise utility of the robots remains uncertain. Past demonstrations have raised skepticism; for instance, in May, Tesla faced criticism for sharing a video that seemingly showed an Optimus robot folding a shirt, which was later revealed to be manipulated by a person off-screen.
Tesla has a history of presenting its robotic innovations in a way that some analysts perceive as misleading. The unveiling of the Optimus robot project in 2021 featured a dancer in a robot suit, casting doubt on the authenticity of its technological advancements.
Industry experts express concerns regarding Tesla’s ability to compete with established players like Boston Dynamics. Craig Irwin, an analyst at Roth MKM, remarked, “A sentient humanoid robot by 2025? They had a dancer in a robot suit!” He added that catching up to the competition would be challenging, noting that Tesla’s previous demonstrations seemed outdated.
In addition to Boston Dynamics, Tesla faces competition from Honda and Apptronik in Japan, and Chinese companies like Dongfeng Motor and Nio are testing humanoid robots made by UBTech Robotics. BMW has also incorporated humanoid robots from Silicon Valley’s Figure into its operations since January.
Musk’s comments spurred a rise of over 3% in Tesla’s stock on Monday. Year-to-date, shares have remained relatively stable following a significant rebound over the past two months. Tesla is expected to report its second-quarter earnings on Tuesday, where Musk is likely to provide updates on the much-anticipated robotaxi rollout.