So perhaps, 2022 won’t be a year in which the company changes the world with a new model or feature. Instead, it will be one where Tesla focuses on building its lead over its rivals.
Building the Optimus humanoid robot
The Tesla CEO did promise one awesome innovation. But it’s not a vehicle. He expects to get production ramped up using Optimus.
“I think actually the most important product development we’re doing this year is actually the Optimus humanoid robot,” he said. “This, I think, has the potential to be more significant than the vehicle business over time.”
And Musk described how building a robot will help Tesla produce more cars.
“If you think about the economy, it is — the foundation of the economy is labor,” Musk explained.
“Capital equipment is distilled labor. So, what happens if you don’t actually have a labor shortage? I’m not sure what an economy even means at that point. That’s what Optimus is about, so very important.”
