Tesla’s stock experienced a notable increase on Monday, spurred by Elon Musk’s continued promotion of the company’s humanoid robots’ potential value. Musk took to social media platform X to announce that Tesla anticipates having “genuinely useful humanoid robots” in low production for internal use by next year, with plans for higher production available to other companies by 2026.
During Tesla’s annual shareholder meeting in April, Musk specified that the Optimus robots would begin limited production in 2025, predicting that more than 1,000 units would be operational by the end of that year. Currently, two robots are present on Tesla’s factory floor, although details regarding their specific functions have not been disclosed.
Musk also theorized that Optimus could potentially add an astonishing $20 trillion to Tesla’s market capitalization. However, the robots are not expected to hit the market until late 2025, with anticipated prices ranging from $20,000 to $30,000.
Despite the ambitious projections, it remains ambiguous what Musk means by “genuinely useful” robots, particularly given that past demonstrations have faced skepticism. For instance, an incident in May involved a video of the Optimus robot folding a shirt, which was alleged to have been controlled by an off-screen individual.
Critics, including MKM analyst Craig Irwin, noted that Tesla has previously used elaborate presentations, such as showcasing a dancer in a robot suit during the project’s initial reveal in 2021, raising doubts about their current technological capabilities. Additionally, with competition from established players like Boston Dynamics, Honda, and various Chinese manufacturers, skepticism about Tesla’s ability to advance in this area remains prevalent.
Despite these concerns, Tesla’s stock rose over 3% following Musk’s comments, indicating market optimism. The company is poised to report its second-quarter earnings on Tuesday, where Musk is expected to provide further insight, including updates on the much-anticipated robotaxi project.
In summary, while optimism for Tesla’s humanoid robots is growing among some investors, significant challenges and competitive pressures loom. It will be interesting to see how Tesla navigates this innovative path and what the upcoming earnings report reveals about the company’s broader strategic focus.
A hopeful perspective could be that Tesla’s ambition to pioneer in humanoid robotics aligns with its broader goals of innovation and transformation within the automotive and technology sectors. If executed well, this venture could redefine efficiency and productivity in various industries.