Tesla’s stock experienced an increase on Monday as CEO Elon Musk highlighted the promising future of the company’s humanoid robots. Musk shared on X that Tesla aims to have useful humanoid robots in limited production for internal use by next year, with the goal of high production for commercial use by 2026.
During Tesla’s annual meeting in April, Musk indicated that the Optimus robots would begin limited production in 2025, projecting that over 1,000 robots would be operational at Tesla by the year’s end. Currently, two robots have been incorporated into the factory environment, although their specific functions have not been disclosed.
Musk has speculated that the introduction of these robots could potentially enhance Tesla’s market capitalization by $20 trillion. The robots are anticipated to enter the market around late 2025, with expected prices ranging from $20,000 to $30,000.
However, the practicality of these robots remains uncertain. Previous demonstrations have raised skepticism; for instance, a recent video showcasing an Optimus robot folding a shirt was criticized for actually being manipulated by an off-screen person.
Tesla’s earlier presentations of the Optimus project included a dancer in a robot costume, which led to doubts about the genuine capabilities of these robots. Analysts have pointed out that Tesla’s technology appears to lag behind competitors like Boston Dynamics, with some claiming that what has been displayed resembles technology from nearly a decade ago.
In addition to Boston Dynamics, Tesla faces competition from Honda, Apptronik, and Chinese companies such as Dongfeng Motor and Nio, which are testing humanoid robots from UBTech Robotics. BMW has also integrated humanoid robots from Silicon Valley’s Figure into its operations since early this year.
Following Musk’s comments, Tesla’s stock rose over 3% on Monday. The shares have remained stable year-to-date after a significant recovery over the last couple of months. Tesla is set to announce its second-quarter earnings on Tuesday, where Musk is expected to provide updates on the timeline for the much-anticipated robotaxi launch.