Tesla drops two car models to create humanoid robots instead

Tesla will stop making two of its popular cars to use the production line to manufacture Optimus humanoid robots.

Elon Musk, Tesla’s CEO, announced that it is time to kill off two models, which have been around for more than a decade, saying that the future will be robotic.

The world’s richest man said Tesla will stop manufacturing the Model S and X, with the electric cars available to buyers as long as stock lasts.

The move is part of Musk’s plan to make the Optimus robot available for consumers to carry out boring, repetitive and even dangerous house tasks – albeit for those with deep pockets as one robot is expected to cost up to $30,000.

Speaking to investors, Musk said: ‘It’s time to bring the Model S and X program to an end with an honourable discharge, because we’re really moving into a future that’s based on autonomy.’

Tesla will reportedly start converting its Fremont, California, plant into a giant Optimus factory.

What is Tesla’s Optimus robot?

While tech like robotaxis is closer to becoming a reality in London, humanoid robots in the home also seem more plausible.

Tesla is on a mission that seemed like a dystopian vision only a few years ago – to have human-like robots run those pesky errands we people don’t want to.

According to Musk, the solution will be the Optimus robot, or Tesla Bot as it is also known.

Customers should be able to buy their own Optimus by late 2027, Musk said at Davos last week.

One Optimus robot is estimated to cost between $20,000 and $30,000 (£14,400 and £21,700)

The general-purpose robot will be 5 ft 8 in tall and weigh 125 lb (57kg). It would be able to carry up to 45 lb (20 kg) with its hands.

The development of the third generation of Optimus is now underway after the robot was first launched in 2022.

While Optimus Generation 3 robots will be designed for everyday tasks in and outside the home, Musk has further plans for the humanoid which are out of this world, literally.

Musk said last year that an Optimus robot will be sent to Mars in 2026 on a SpaceX rocket.

Kim Kardashian has posed with the Tesla Bot, and she posted a clip of her playing rock, paper, scissors with the robot.

The future of robotics

Tesla is not the only company deep in the robotics game, and the technology has very much arrived in the UK, from driverless subway trains to delivery robots.

In Milton Keynes, people have been able to have their shopping delivered by one of the Co-op’s Starship robots since 2018.

Home robots are already available from other brands like Neo, whose humanoid robot can be yours for £15,000.

However, the first Neo models will not be fully autonomous – the first versions will involve remote controlling by a human in a call centre wearing a VR headset.

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