Milan Kovac, the head of Tesla’s humanoid robot project Optimus, has announced his departure from the company after nine years.
Kovac’s exit comes on the heels of CEO Elon Musk’s recent claims that the Optimus robot could transform Tesla into a $25 trillion enterprise, despite the humanoid robot market being valued in the low single-digit billions with projected growth ranging from $15 billion to $80 billion over the next decade.
Kovac cited personal reasons for his decision, stating he needs to spend more time with family abroad, while asserting his unwavering support for Musk and the Tesla team.
Tesla’s Optimus Project Head Milan Kovac Departs After Nine Years
Kovac joined Tesla in 2016 and was instrumental in the Autopilot program, eventually rising to lead the software engineering efforts. In 2022, he began overseeing the Optimus program, which Musk has heralded as vital to Tesla’s future.
However, many experts remain skeptical about Musk’s optimistic predictions for the humanoid robot’s financial potential. The lack of evidence supporting Tesla’s competitive edge in this emerging market only adds to the skepticism surrounding Musk’s bold statements.
The departure of Kovac adds to concerns about a noticeable exodus of talent within Tesla, as several top engineers have recently left the company. Notably, Zackary Bernholtz, another veteran of the Optimus team, was recently recruited by Figure, a rival company making significant strides in humanoid robotics.
This trend raises questions about Tesla’s ability to execute its ambitious plans for the Optimus project amidst increasing competition from companies like Unitree, which has already begun selling humanoid robots.
While Kovac’s reasons for leaving appear personal, industry insiders speculate that if he truly believed in the projected multi-trillion-dollar opportunity of the Optimus, he might not have chosen to depart.
Nevertheless, Kovac’s nine years of hard work at Tesla is commendable, and his exit marks a pivotal moment for the company as it navigates the burgeoning field of humanoid robotics.