Tesla’s Optimus humanoid robot project, spearheaded by CEO Elon Musk, faces delays and skepticism despite making significant progress from its theatrical debut to functional prototypes. On Monday, July 21, Musk announced widespread implementation of the Optimus robots would be delayed again, at least until the end of 2024.

Tesla shareholders responded to the delay with cautious optimism. The company’s stock rose 3% on Monday after the announcement.

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Tesla’s Optimus project has made significant strides since its introduction in 2021. The humanoids can now fold t-shirts and handle eggs without breaking them. However, ongoing challenges continue for development teams as the company struggles to meet ambitious timelines for widespread deployment. Two Optimus robots are currently working on Tesla’s factory floor, although Musk did not share what tasks the robots complete.

In the humanoid robotics space, Tesla already faces stiff competition from established players like Boston Dynamics. The robotics company already achieved significant milestones with its humanoid, Atlas, like running, moving objects and navigating obstacles in real-time.

As Tesla prepares to introduce humanoid robots to factory settings, Musk began to address ethical and safety implications of using robot-human interactions. He emphasized the need for safety measures, including an off-switch. Musk said Tesla aims to use Optimus to address labor shortages and automate repetitive tasks across various sectors.

Musk projected the robots will hit the open market by late 2025 at an estimated price of $20,000 to $30,000.