Tesla, the electric vehicle manufacturer, will begin using humanoid robots internally next year before expanding production to other companies by 2026, according to CEO Elon Musk.
Musk announced on X, formerly known as Twitter, that the robots will be in “low production” at Tesla factories starting next year. He expressed hope for “high production” for other companies by 2026.
This announcement follows Musk’s April statement that the Tesla robot Optimus would be capable of performing factory tasks by the end of 2023 and could be available for purchase by the end of 2025.
Tesla first unveiled its plans for humanoid robots in 2021 at an AI Day event. A year later, the company introduced Optimus, nicknamed Bumblebee, stating that it would be less expensive than a Tesla car and manufactured in large quantities.
Musk previously remarked that many robots lacked the intelligence to navigate the world independently. He stated that Optimus would be an “extremely capable robot” with a reasonable price tag of under $20,000. He predicted that Optimus would be “mind-blowing” in five to ten years.
Humanoid robots are designed to resemble and act like humans, mimicking facial expressions and movements.
Several companies, including Honda in Japan and Hyundai Motor’s Boston Dynamics, have invested in humanoid robots to address potential labor shortages in specific industries by performing repetitive or dangerous tasks.
Musk has previously stated that robot sales could surpass other Tesla business segments, including car manufacturing.
The global humanoid robot market, valued at $1.8 billion in 2023, is projected to reach over $13 billion within the next five years, according to research firm MarketsandMarkets.