Tesla boss Elon Musk says the electrical automobile maker will begin producing and utilizing humanoid robots from subsequent yr.
In a social media put up, Mr Musk stated the robots will first be utilized by Tesla, which is able to begin making them to promote in 2026.
The announcement got here because the expertise billionaire has been pushing to chop prices at Tesla within the face of weakening demand for its vehicles.
On Tuesday, the corporate reported that income had dropped by almost half for the three months to the top of June, falling from $2.7bn (£2.09bn) to lower than $1.5bn (£1.16bn), as a gross sales stoop weighed on the underside line.
“General, our focus stays on company-wide price discount,” the corporate stated on Tuesday in an replace for buyers.
Tesla stated its automotive income fell 7% year-on-year within the quarter, regardless of a flurry of worth cuts and different incentives geared toward attractive clients.
It nonetheless eked out an total income rise of two%, because of development in its vitality storage enterprise.
Tesla’s shares fell by virtually 8% in after-hours buying and selling.
Mr Musk’s companies have been more and more specializing in applied sciences equivalent to synthetic intelligence, autonomous driving and robots at a time of slowing demand for electrical autos.
Mr Musk had beforehand stated he anticipated the robotic, referred to as Optimus, to be prepared to be used in Tesla factories by the top of this yr.
“Tesla may have genuinely helpful humanoid robots in low manufacturing for Tesla inner use subsequent yr and, hopefully, excessive manufacturing for different firms in 2026,” Mr Musk stated on his social media platform X, previously often called Twitter.
Different corporations, together with Honda and Boston Dynamics, have additionally been creating their very own humanoid robots.
Tesla has stated it goals to construct an “autonomous humanoid robotic” to carry out “unsafe, repetitive or boring duties.”
Mr Musk has beforehand stated Tesla aimed for the robots to be mass produced and value lower than $20,000 (£17,900) every.
He’s identified for setting formidable timelines for his firms, which he has not all the time met.
In 2019, he stated he felt “very assured” Tesla would have self-driving taxis on the street by the next yr.
Earlier this yr, Mr Musk stated the long-awaited robo-taxi could be unveiled on 8 August, however that occasion has reportedly been delayed.
Tesla stated on Tuesday that it was nonetheless working “vigorously” on robo-taxis, however the timing of the rollout would rely partially on regulatory approval.
