Elon Musk revealed Tesla’s latest creation, the Optimus Gen 2 humanoid robot, showcasing its abilities with an energetic dance performance during an event that also introduced the Cybercab robotaxi and a new robovan. Musk described Optimus as Tesla’s “biggest product ever,” capable of performing everyday human tasks, such as serving drinks and cleaning homes. A promotional video displayed the robot completing various household chores.
At the “We, Robot” event, a group of the new Optimus Gen 2 robots walked onto the stage, even dancing at the end of the presentation. Musk shared that these robots will be able to do everything from walking dogs and playing board games to mowing lawns and even babysitting. He estimated that each Optimus Gen 2 will be priced around $30,000—a price point comparable to many current cars.
Musk emphasized that the promotional video wasn’t staged, saying Optimus will “soon walk among you.” Along with the humanoid robots, Tesla unveiled the Cybercab robotaxi, which features futuristic design elements like wing-like doors but no pedals or steering wheel. They also introduced a 20-seater robovan.
Musk hinted that Tesla’s Model 3 and Model Y vehicles might offer fully autonomous driving capabilities by 2025, pending regulatory approval. However, regulatory challenges remain due to some self-driving Tesla models being involved in accidents despite their advanced sensors and radars.
The Cybercab launch had been delayed due to design changes, with its release initially planned for August. Competitors like Waymo have already released their own robotaxis. The sector faces difficulties, particularly because of traffic incidents that question the safety of driverless cars.
Despite these concerns, Musk highlighted the potential of autonomous vehicles, saying that Tesla owners could profit by renting out their robotaxis. Although production of the Cybercab is expected to start before 2027, Musk acknowledged Tesla’s history of delays, humorously admitting, “I tend to be optimistic with time frames.”