Tesla to have humanoid robots for internal use next year, Musk says

Tesla will have humanoid robots in "low production" for the company's internal use next year, according to CEO Elon Musk.

This announcement comes months after he initially promised a rollout by the end of 2024. Musk also stated that the robots, known as Optimus, are expected to be in high production for other companies by 2026.

Musk had previously mentioned that the Optimus robot would be capable of performing tasks in Tesla factories by the end of this year and could be ready for sale by late 2025.

Humanoid robots have been in development for several years by companies like Honda and Hyundai's Boston Dynamics, aiming to address potential labor shortages and handle repetitive or dangerous tasks in logistics, warehousing, and manufacturing.

Musk, however, has a history of overpromising to investors. In 2019, he claimed Tesla would be operating a network of "robotaxi" autonomous cars by 2020, but recently indicated a delay due to a requested design change.

Tesla introduced its first generation Optimus robot, Bumblebee, in September 2022, and has since showcased a second-generation robot performing tasks such as folding a T-shirt.