Tesla plans to introduce a “low-volume” series of humanoid robots for internal use next year, Chief Executive Officer Elon Musk said on Monday, months after saying they would be available by the end of 2024.
Musk hopes that the robots will be able to be mass-produced for other companies by 2026. stated in the post On social media platform X.
Musk said in April that Tesla’s robot, called Optimus, would be working in factories by the end of this year and could be available for sale as early as the end of 2025.
Humanoid robots have been in development for several years by Japan’s Honda Motor Co. and Hyundai Motor Co.’s Boston Dynamics, and companies are banking on them to help fill potential labor shortages and handle dangerous, repetitive and tedious tasks in logistics, warehousing and manufacturing.
Musk has a history of failing to deliver on bold promises to Wall Street.
In 2019, he told investors that Tesla planned to have a network of self-driving “robo-taxi” cars operating by 2020.
He suggested last week that the robot taxi launch would take longer, calling for “significant design changes” to the front of the vehicles.
Tesla launched the first generation of its Optimus robot, “Bumblebee,” in September 2022. This year, the company posted a video of the second generation of the bipedal robot. Fold a T-shirt At company facilities.
As demand for electric vehicles, which account for more than 80% of Tesla’s quarterly sales, has declined, Musk has pivoted in recent months to focus on artificial intelligence, self-driving software, robotaxis and Optimus robots.
Tesla is due to report second-quarter results on Tuesday, when Wall Street expects profit margins to hit their lowest level in more than five years, but attention will also be focused on Musk’s ambitious plans for robotaxis and AI products.
Tesla shares rose more than 3% on Monday.
