Tesla’s stock experienced an increase on Monday as Elon Musk emphasized the potential benefits of the company’s humanoid robots. Musk stated on X that Tesla aims to have “genuinely useful” humanoid robots in low production for internal use by next year, with plans for higher production for other companies by 2026.
During Tesla’s annual meeting in April, Musk projected that the Optimus robots would enter limited production by 2025, aiming for over 1,000 units operational at Tesla by year-end. Currently, two robots are present on the factory floor, although Tesla has not disclosed their specific functions.
Musk previously suggested that the robots could significantly enhance Tesla’s market valuation, potentially adding $20 trillion. The robots are expected to go on sale at the end of 2025, priced between $20,000 and $30,000.
However, it remains uncertain what Musk means by “genuinely useful.” Past demonstrations have raised skepticism—one incident involved a video where an Optimus robot appeared to fold a shirt, which was allegedly being controlled by an off-screen person. Critics have pointed out that Tesla’s promotional tactics have often seemed more theatrical than substantive, including an early announcement featuring a dancer in a robot costume.
Analyst Craig Irwin from MKM expressed doubt about Tesla’s ability to compete with established companies like Boston Dynamics, noting that Tesla’s current technology appears outdated compared to industry standards.
In addition to Boston Dynamics, Tesla faces competition from Honda, Apptronik, and several Chinese automakers, including Dongfeng Motor and Nio, both of which are experimenting with humanoid robots from UBTech Robotics in their production lines. BMW has also incorporated humanoid robots from Silicon Valley’s Figure in its operations since January.
Following Musk’s comments, Tesla’s stock rose by more than 3% on Monday, maintaining a stable performance for the year after a robust recovery over the last two months. The company is set to release its second-quarter earnings on Tuesday, where Musk is expected to provide updates on the delayed launch of the robotaxi.