Tesla boss Elon Musk says the electrical automobile maker will begin producing and utilizing humanoid robots from subsequent yr.
In a social media publish, Mr Musk mentioned 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 know-how billionaire has been pushing to chop prices at Tesla within the face of weakening demand for its automobiles.
On Tuesday, the corporate reported that income had dropped by practically half for the three months to the tip of June, falling from $2.7bn (£2.09bn) to lower than $1.5bn (£1.16bn), as a gross sales droop weighed on the underside line.
“General, our focus stays on company-wide value discount,” the corporate mentioned on Tuesday in an replace for traders.
Tesla mentioned its automotive income fell 7% year-on-year within the quarter, regardless of a flurry of value cuts and different incentives aimed toward attractive clients.
It nonetheless eked out an general income rise of two%, because of progress in its vitality storage enterprise.
Tesla’s shares fell by nearly 8% in after-hours buying and selling.
Mr Musk’s companies have been more and more specializing in applied sciences comparable to synthetic intelligence, autonomous driving and robots at a time of slowing demand for electrical autos.
Mr Musk had beforehand mentioned he anticipated the robotic, known as Optimus, to be prepared to be used in Tesla factories by the tip of this yr.
“Tesla can 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 mentioned on his social media platform X, previously generally known as Twitter.
Different companies, together with Honda and Boston Dynamics, have additionally been creating their very own humanoid robots.
Tesla has mentioned it goals to construct an “autonomous humanoid robotic” to carry out “unsafe, repetitive or boring duties.”
Mr Musk has beforehand mentioned 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 at all times met.
In 2019, he mentioned he felt “very assured” Tesla would have self-driving taxis on the street by the next yr.
Earlier this yr, Mr Musk mentioned the long-awaited robo-taxi could be unveiled on 8 August, however that occasion has reportedly been delayed.
Tesla mentioned on Tuesday that it was nonetheless working “vigorously” on robo-taxis, however the timing of the rollout would rely partly on regulatory approval.