Tesla's Optimus Robot VP Departs Amid Ambitious Scaling Plans

Tesla’s ambitious Optimus humanoid robot program faces a significant leadership change as Milan Kovac, the vice president overseeing the project, departs the company. Kovac has been a key figure at Tesla for nearly a decade, contributing extensively to the Autopilot team before taking on the Optimus program leadership in 2022 and becoming VP in late 2024.

This departure comes at a pivotal moment when Tesla CEO Elon Musk has publicly declared plans to deploy thousands of Optimus robots in Tesla factories by the end of 2025. Musk envisions scaling production faster than any previous Tesla product, aiming for millions of units annually as soon as possible.

Kovac’s role was not limited to hardware; he also led engineering teams responsible for the software foundations shared between Optimus and Tesla’s Autopilot system. This dual expertise highlights the complexity and integration of AI and robotics within Tesla’s broader technological ecosystem.

Following Kovac’s exit, Ashok Elluswamy, Tesla’s vice president of AI software, will assume leadership of the Optimus project. Elluswamy’s background in AI software suggests a continued emphasis on the integration of advanced AI capabilities in the robot’s development and deployment.

Tesla’s vision for Optimus is nothing short of revolutionary. Musk’s goal to rapidly scale production to millions of humanoid robots annually could transform manufacturing and automation industries. However, leadership changes during such a critical scaling phase introduce both challenges and opportunities for innovation.

The departure of a key engineering leader like Kovac raises questions about the program’s direction and execution speed. Yet, with Elluswamy’s AI expertise, Tesla may double down on software-driven advancements to meet Musk’s aggressive production targets.

For industry watchers and tech leaders, Tesla’s Optimus program exemplifies the intersection of AI, robotics, and manufacturing at scale. It highlights how leadership dynamics can impact innovation trajectories in emerging technologies.

As Tesla pushes forward, the world will be watching to see if Optimus can fulfill its promise of revolutionizing factory automation and beyond. The program’s success or setbacks will offer valuable lessons for AI-driven robotics development globally.