Tesla's Robotics Vice President Milan Kovac Announces Departure
Milan Kovac, the vice president overseeing Tesla's Optimus humanoid robotics division, has announced his departure from the company as of June 2025. Kovac, who began his career at Tesla in 2016, expressed gratitude towards CEO Elon Musk for his mentorship and support throughout nearly a decade of collaboration.
Achievements and Contributions at Tesla
During his tenure, Kovac advanced from directing Autopilot software engineering to leading the Optimus project starting in 2022. Tesla continues to push forward with its vision of creating a versatile bipedal robot designed for a variety of applications.
In Tesla's first-quarter 2025 investor update, the company outlined plans to commence production of Optimus units on their Fremont pilot line, aiming for broader deployment of robots performing practical tasks across Tesla factories within the year.
Progress and Future Outlook for Optimus Robotics
Elon Musk, emphasizing his optimistic outlook during the 2024 annual shareholder meeting, projected that the development of humanoid robots like Optimus could elevate Tesla’s market valuation significantly in the future. Recent demonstrations revealed that the current Optimus prototypes are being trained to execute fundamental tasks such as picking up objects, opening doors, and throwing balls.
Competitive Landscape
- Boston Dynamics
- Agility Robotics
- Apptronik
- 1X
- Figure
These companies represent the main competitors within the humanoid robotics sector, each advancing innovation in intelligent bipedal robots.
Final Remarks and Industry Impact
Elon Musk publicly recognized Kovac’s significant contributions to Tesla’s technology advancements. Despite Kovac’s departure, Tesla’s commitment to mass-producing Optimus robots and integrating them within their manufacturing processes remains unchanged.
The company's efforts to develop intelligent robots capable of performing diverse functions signal a strategic push to enhance automation and efficiency within industrial and consumer environments.
