After several years of development, Tesla has put two Optimus robots to work in one of its factories. This is the first time that humanoid robots have officially contributed to the development of the brand’s electric cars. Elon Musk ensures that 1,000 robots will be deployed as early as next year.
The Optimus Robot Goes into Service
In a tweet on Twitter, Tesla listed the key achievements the company has made since 2018. This strategic post came just before the shareholders voted on the multi-billion dollar compensation plan requested by Elon Musk. Among these achievements, it was revealed that the Optimus robot has gone into service.
Tesla announced that two of its humanoid robots have been deployed in an automotive factory. This is the first time they will directly contribute to vehicle manufacturing for the American company. According to the automaker, the two robots “perform tasks in a factory autonomously“.
The Optimus was first revealed to the public in 2021. Since then, Elon Musk has spoken several times to provide updates on his robot. It is a flagship project for the company. The billionaire even believes that the Optimus will be the “most important product for Tesla“. However, there is still a long way to go.
1,000 Humanoids Next Year?
It is unknown which factory the robots are currently operating in or what tasks they are performing. Tesla is currently refusing to provide more information on this. Elon Musk, however, stated that “1,000 Optimus robots will be working in Tesla factories as early as next year“. The CEO is convinced that this humanoid robot will one day have “more value than anything Tesla is currently doing“.
He told shareholders that thanks to Optimus, “Tesla will be worth 10 times more than the most valuable companies currently“. Classic Musk! He believes he can sell his humanoids for around $20,000. While we are only at the beginning of this new era, robots are increasingly present in automotive factories.
Nio and Dongfeng are also using humanoids to manufacture their cars. They are working with a Tesla competitor: Ubtech Robotics, the company behind a robot called Walker S. This humanoid is apparently on par with the Optimus. It may soon become the norm for all automotive manufacturers.