Elon Musk: Tesla will produce humanoid robots on a small scale for internal use next year

According to the financial news app Zhitong Finance, Tesla (TSLA.US) CEO Elon Musk stated on Monday that the company will start small-scale production of humanoid robots next year for internal use. Musk also mentioned that the company plans to mass-produce humanoid robots in 2026, with the intention of making them available for other companies to use.

In April this year, Musk mentioned that the humanoid robot named Optimus would be able to perform tasks at Tesla factories by the end of this year, with the earliest possible launch for sales by the end of 2025. Earlier this month, Musk stated that the design of the company's second-generation humanoid robot Optimus would be completed later in 2024. Musk described the new design as "special," but did not disclose further details.

It is reported that the second-generation Optimus made its first appearance on December 13 last year, with a demonstration video posted on the social platform X. On July 4, the second-generation Optimus officially appeared at the 2024 World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC 2024). Reports indicate that Tesla officials introduced the second-generation Optimus, which, in addition to walking upright, has increased its walking speed by 30%; its fingers have also "evolved" to not only perceive and touch but also handle tasks like gripping eggs and moving heavy objects with ease.

Tesla had previously stated that the second-generation Optimus would first be used in its manufacturing plants, and once its practicality is confirmed, the company will begin selling the robot. At last month's Tesla shareholder meeting, Musk mentioned that the Optimus robot would bring huge profits to the company, with over 1000 or even thousands of Optimus robots working at Tesla starting next year. Musk further stated that humanoid robots could potentially increase the company's market value to $25 trillion at some point in the future