Tesla’s stock experienced a surge on Monday as Elon Musk continues to highlight the potential of the company’s humanoid robots. Musk announced on X that Tesla plans to have “genuinely useful” humanoid robots in limited production for internal use next year, with hopes for larger-scale production for other companies by 2026.
During Tesla’s annual meeting in April, Musk indicated that the Optimus robots would enter limited production in 2025, aiming for over 1,000 units operational by the year’s end. Currently, two robots are present on the factory floor, although their specific tasks remain undisclosed.
Musk suggested a potential market impact, noting that the robots could potentially add $20 trillion to Tesla’s market capitalization. However, the robots are not expected to be available for purchase until late 2025, with anticipated prices ranging from $20,000 to $30,000.
The specifics of what Musk means by “genuinely useful” remain vague, especially following previous product demonstrations that have faced criticism. In May, for instance, Tesla was accused of sharing a video showcasing an Optimus robot folding a shirt, which was allegedly controlled by an individual off-screen.
This is not the first time Tesla has been scrutinized for its presentations; the company previously introduced its Optimus project in 2021 with a dancer in a robot suit, raising questions about its authenticity.
Analyst Craig Irwin from Roth MKM voiced skepticism about the timeline for a “sentient humanoid robot” by 2025, remarking on Tesla’s past efforts compared to competitors like Boston Dynamics, noting that Tesla’s current offering appears outdated.
In addition to Boston Dynamics, Tesla faces competition from Honda and Apptronik in the humanoid robot space. Chinese automakers, including Dongfeng Motor and Nio, are testing humanoid robots by UBTech Robotics on production lines, while BMW has been utilizing humanoid robots from Silicon Valley-based Figure in its facilities since January.
In response to Musk’s comments, Tesla’s stock rose over 3% on Monday. The shares have remained relatively stable year-to-date after a notable resurgence over the past two months. Tesla is scheduled to report its second-quarter earnings on Tuesday, where Musk is anticipated to provide updates on the delayed robotaxi.