Tesla’s stock experienced an increase on Monday, driven by Elon Musk’s continued emphasis on the potential value of the company’s humanoid robots. Musk stated on social media that Tesla aims to have humanoid robots in low production for internal use by next year, with hopes for higher production for other companies by 2026.
During Tesla’s annual shareholder meeting in April, Musk predicted that the Optimus robots would enter limited production in 2025, with over 1,000 robots operational by the end of that year. Currently, two robots are on the factory floor, though their specific roles have not been disclosed.
Musk has suggested that the introduction of these robots could potentially increase Tesla’s market capitalization by $20 trillion. The robots are not expected to be available for sale until late 2025, with projected prices ranging from $20,000 to $30,000.
There remains some ambiguity regarding Musk’s characterization of the robots as “genuinely useful.” Previous demonstrations have faced criticism; for example, a video released in May allegedly showed an Optimus robot folding a shirt, which some claimed was controlled by an operator off-camera. In addition, the initial reveal of the Optimus project in 2021 featured a performer in a costume, raising skepticism about its capabilities.
Analyst Craig Irwin from MKM expressed doubts about Tesla’s ability to compete with established robotics companies like Boston Dynamics, given that their technology is seen as outdated compared to current advancements in the field.
In addition to Boston Dynamics, Tesla faces competition from other competitors, including Honda and Apptronik. Moreover, several Chinese automakers are testing humanoid robots on their production lines, and BMW has been integrating humanoid robots from Silicon Valley’s Figure since January.
Following Musk’s comments, Tesla’s stock rose by more than 3% on Monday. Year-to-date, shares have remained relatively stable after a significant recovery over the past couple of months. Tesla is set to report its second-quarter earnings on Tuesday, where Musk is anticipated to update investors on the company’s delayed robotaxi initiative.