Tesla plans to showcase a humanoid robot called "Optimus Prime" in its stores to increase foot traffic and customer engagement. It will first be tested in the Chinese market.
Tesla's humanoid robot has found its first application - selling cars in stores.
Of course, this doesn't mean that salespeople in stores will be laid off. According to the company's plan, the main role of placing Tesla robots in stores is to attract customers.
According to automotive media Electrek, Tesla will place "Optimus" humanoid robots in its stores. However, these robots will not interact with customers, they are purely there to attract attention.
The logic behind this is as follows: Tesla has found that whenever Optimus appears at various exhibitions and conferences, it attracts strong attention and a surge of people. Therefore, the company believes that by displaying this robot in stores, it can increase foot traffic and customer engagement.
Tesla has already sent Optimus to the ongoing Shanghai 2023 AI Conference, and its futuristic design has attracted a large number of participants, creating a bustling scene.
According to sales data released earlier this month, Tesla delivered 466,000 vehicles in the second quarter, a year-on-year increase of 83%. However, behind the record-breaking sales, Tesla's performance in the North American market fell short of the company's delivery target.
The eye-catching Optimus robot may be a good way to attract customers.
According to Electrek, Optimus will first land in stores in China as a trial for global promotion.
Just last month, Tesla's official channel released a short video showcasing the robot's perception of the environment and its ability to perform precise movements. A large group of Optimus robots walking in front of the futuristic Tesla Cybertruck resembled a scene from the classic movie "Terminator" at the beginning of the millennium.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk previously stated that humanoid robots will eventually become a major part of Tesla's corporate value.