Tesla CEO Elon Musk said Wednesday on the company’s fourth-quarter earnings call that a humanoid robot is the “most important product” that Tesla is developing this year, putting it ahead of the much-hyped Cybertruck and other vehicles, including the Semi and the Roadster.
Musk first teased the “Tesla Bot” in August using a human in a robot suit, warning during the company’s “AI Day” that it “probably won’t work” but added that he hoped to have a prototype in the next year. “I think it has the potential to be more significant than the vehicle business over time,” Musk said of the robot, which is code-named Optimus.
The Tesla boss added the company has no plans to introduce the Cybertruck this year and that it isn’t currently working on a $25,000 vehicle. The lingering chip shortage hampers the release of new models without resulting in fewer total vehicles being delivered, he said.
“So, in terms of priority of products, I think actually the most important product development we’re doing this year is actually the Optimus humanoid robot,” Musk said during a conference call with analysts on Wednesday afternoon. The 5-foot-8, 125-pound robot is currently in development and could debut in prototype form this year.
The robotics project raised eyebrows when it was unveiled to the public last August, with one analyst referring to the move as a “head-scratcher” that could irritate core investors as Tesla faces more competition in the electric vehicle sector.
The Optimus robot will utilize the same cameras as Tesla’s “Autopilot” semiautonomous driving system. Musk previously said the robot would be capable of basic manual tasks and able to carry 45 pounds or lift 150 pounds. Musk told analysts the “Tesla bot” could have a major impact on the labor market once development is completed.
