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Tesla Optimus VP Milan Kovac Departs Amid Robotics Development Progress

Milan Kovac, Tesla's vice president leading the Optimus humanoid robotics unit, has announced his departure after joining the company in 2016. Tesla plans to begin pilot production of Optimus robots at its Fremont factory this year, aiming to deploy them broadly across factories to perform useful tasks. Elon Musk expressed confidence in the project's potential to significantly increase Tesla’s market value over time, emphasizing ongoing development milestones like training robots for basic physical tasks. Kovac’s exit marks a leadership change amid growing competition in the humanoid robotics industry.

Tesla Optimus VP Milan Kovac Departs Amid Robotics Development Progress

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.

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