Tesla’s stock experienced an increase on Monday as Elon Musk continues to highlight the potential value of the company’s humanoid robots. Musk stated on social media that Tesla intends to have genuinely useful humanoid robots in limited production for internal use next year, with hopes for higher production for external companies by 2026.
During Tesla’s annual shareholder meeting in April, Musk mentioned that the Optimus robots would move into limited production by 2025, predicting that over 1,000 units would be operational at Tesla by the end of that year. Currently, two robots are reported to be on the factory floor, although Tesla has not disclosed their specific functions.
Musk previously speculated that this product could contribute an additional $20 trillion to Tesla’s market capitalization. The robots are projected to be available for sale by the end of 2025 at prices ranging from $20,000 to $30,000.
However, the exact meaning of “genuinely useful” remains unclear, as past demonstrations have not been particularly impressive. In May, Tesla faced criticism for showcasing a video in which an Optimus appeared to fold a shirt, which was allegedly manipulated by a person off-screen.
This is not the first instance of Tesla using dramatic displays to promote its robots. The Optimus project was introduced in 2021 with a person dancing in a robot costume.
Analyst Craig Irwin from Roth MKM expressed skepticism about Tesla’s potential to catch up with competitors like Boston Dynamics, emphasizing that their current technologies seem outdated compared to what was available nearly a decade ago.
In addition to Boston Dynamics, Tesla also faces competition from companies such as Honda and Apptronik. In China, automakers Dongfeng Motor and Nio are integrating humanoid robots developed by UBTech Robotics into their production lines, while BMW has been utilizing humanoid robots from Figure, a Silicon Valley-based company, in its facilities since the beginning of the year.
On the strength of Musk’s comments, Tesla’s stock rose over 3% on Monday. Year-to-date, shares have remained relatively stable after a significant rebound in the past two months. Tesla is scheduled to report its second-quarter earnings on Tuesday, and Musk is anticipated to provide updates regarding the delayed unveiling of the company’s robotaxi.