Musk: Tesla will use human-like robots by this date

Tesla CEO Elon Musk said on Monday that the company will begin “low-volume production” of human-like robots for internal use next year, months after announcing they would be available by the end of 2024.

Musk said in a post on the social media platform X that the electric carmaker “hopes” to ramp up production of the robots for other companies in 2026.

Musk said in April that Tesla’s robot, called Optimus, would be able to perform factory tasks by the end of this year and could be ready for sale by the end of 2025.

Japanese Honda and Hyundai Motor’s Boston Dynamics have been developing human-like robots for several years. Companies are betting that robots can fill a potential labor shortage and perform repetitive tasks that can be dangerous or boring, such as logistics, warehousing and manufacturing.

Musk has a history of failing to deliver on bold promises made to Wall Street. Tesla shares rose about 1% in premarket trading on Monday.