Tesla’s stock experienced a rise on Monday as Elon Musk continues to emphasize the potential of the company’s humanoid robots.
Musk announced via social media platform X that Tesla expects to have genuinely useful humanoid robots in low production for internal use by next year, and anticipates high production for external companies by 2026.
During Tesla’s annual shareholder meeting in April, Musk mentioned that the Optimus robots would enter limited production in 2025, predicting that more than 1,000 robots would be operational at Tesla by the end of that year. Currently, two robots are already present on the factory floor, although their specific roles remain undisclosed.
Musk also previously suggested that the introduction of these robots could potentially add $20 trillion to the company’s market value, despite them not being available for sale until late 2025, with expected prices ranging from $20,000 to $30,000.
The definition of “genuinely useful” robots remains somewhat ambiguous, particularly following underwhelming product demonstrations. In May, Tesla faced criticism for a video showcasing an Optimus robot folding a shirt, which was later claimed to have been controlled by an off-screen person.
This is not the first instance where Tesla has faced skepticism regarding its robot exhibits; the company famously introduced its Optimus project in 2021 with a dancer in a robot costume.
Craig Irwin, an analyst at Roth MKM, expressed doubts about Tesla’s ambitions. He pointed out that the competition, including Hyundai’s Boston Dynamics and Japan’s Honda, has far surpassed Tesla’s current capabilities, noting that the technology Tesla has demonstrated seems outdated compared to current standards.
Other automakers such as Dongfeng Motor, Nio, and BMW are also in the race, using humanoid robots in their production lines.
Following Musk’s statements, Tesla’s stock climbed over 3% on Monday. The shares have largely remained stagnant year-to-date after a significant recovery in the past two months. Tesla will report its second-quarter earnings on Tuesday, where Musk is expected to provide updates on the postponed robotaxi launch.