In a surprising turn of events, Milan Kovac, the head of Tesla's ambitious Optimus humanoid robot program, has announced his departure from the company. Kovac shared his heartfelt reasons for leaving in a post on X, revealing that he wishes to spend more time with his family overseas. He emphasized that this personal decision has nothing to do with any political issues surrounding Tesla or Elon Musk.

Kovac’s journey at Tesla began in 2016 when he joined as an engineer for the Autopilot team. His leadership of the Optimus group, which he took on in 2022, was pivotal as Tesla ventured into the revolutionary world of humanoid robotics.

A Glimpse into Optimus: The Future of Robotics?

Tesla first unveiled its plans for the Optimus robot in 2021, but it wasn't until 2022 that the public got a glimpse of an actual prototype. Musk has claimed the Optimus will eventually walk at speeds of 5 mph and carry loads weighing up to 45 pounds. With a projected price tag of $20,000 per unit at mass production, this robot could potentially contribute to a staggering $25 trillion market valuation for Tesla.

Over the past year, Tesla has shown off Optimus's impressive skills—handling fragile eggs, cooking delicious meals, folding laundry, and even tossing out the trash! However, the official release date remains shrouded in uncertainty, especially after Musk highlighted production delays caused by China’s export restrictions on crucial rare earth magnets.

Who's Taking the Rein Now?

Bloomberg was the first to break the news of Kovac's exit, reporting that he will be leaving the company immediately. Taking over his responsibilities is Ashok Elluswamy, the current leader of Tesla's Autopilot division.

The departure of such a key figure raises questions about the future of the Optimus program. Will the ambitious project remain on track, or is it destined for more setbacks? Only time will tell in this ever-evolving landscape of technological innovation.