Milan Kovac Leaves Humanoid Robotics Program at Tesla

Milan Kovac, who leads Tesla‘s Optimus humanoid robotics program, is leaving the automaker. In a recent interview, Kovac discussed his journey with Tesla, where he initially joined as an engineer for the core Autopilot team in 2016. He later took on the leadership of the Optimus group in 2022. Kovac explained that his decision to leave is primarily due to personal reasons, stating that he has “been far away from home for too long and will need to spend more time with family abroad.” He emphasized that this was the sole reason for his departure, asserting that his support for Elon Musk and the Tesla team was “ironclad.” This statement suggests that his decision was not influenced by recent political controversies involving Musk or the fallout with the president.

Background on the Optimus Project

Tesla first reported that Tesla was working on a humanoid robot in 2021. However, the company was unable to unveil an actual prototype until a year later, in 2022. During that time, Musk indicated that Optimus would be capable of moving at a speed of 5 mph and carrying loads of up to 45 pounds. He also projected that the robot would retail for approximately $20,000 each when produced at scale, claiming that these machines could significantly enhance the company’s productivity and efficiency.

Capabilities and Production Challenges

Since the initial announcement, Tesla has showcased Optimus’ potential capabilities, including tasks such as cooking meals, folding laundry, and taking out the trash. Despite these advancements, the robot does not yet have a confirmed release date. Musk mentioned in April that production had been hindered by China’s export restrictions on rare earth magnets, indicating that a launch is unlikely to occur in the near future.

Leadership Transition

Bloomberg, which was the first to report on Kovac’s departure, noted that he is leaving the company immediately. Ashok Elluswamy, who currently leads the Autopilot group, will assume Kovac’s responsibilities moving forward.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at Engadget.