Tesla CEO Elon Musk said on Monday that the electric car manufacturer will begin deploying humanoid robots, known as Optimus, at its factories starting next year.
In a social media post on X, Musk detailed that these robots will initially be used internally within Tesla’s operations before becoming available for commercial purchase in 2026.
Tesla will have genuinely useful humanoid robots in low production for Tesla internal use next year and, hopefully, high production for other companies in 2026
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) July 22, 2024
This move is part of Musk’s broader strategy to address a recent decline in Tesla’s profitability.
The company reported a significant drop in profits for the second quarter of 2024, with earnings falling nearly 50% from $2.7 billion to under $1.5 billion, according to BBC.
The decline in profits is attributed to weakening demand for Tesla vehicles, despite the company’s efforts to remain competitive by cutting prices and offering additional incentives to customers.
Musk has increasingly turned to advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence and robotics.
The introduction of humanoid robots is aimed at cutting costs and improving efficiency within Tesla’s factories.
The company envisions these robots taking on “unsafe, repetitive, or boring tasks.” Musk has previously suggested that the robots could be mass-produced at a cost of under $20,000 each.