Tesla CEO Elon Musk expressed confidence that his company will remain at the top of humanoid robot development, despite increasing competition from Chinese companies. In a recent earnings call, Musk stated that Tesla and SpaceX are ahead of other countries in developing physical AI and drones, with China’s companies potentially catching up.
Musk did not elaborate on why he believes Tesla is No. 1, but his comments follow previous bullish statements about the company’s position. In November 2023, Musk claimed that the top 10 automakers of the future will be Tesla, followed by nine Chinese companies. He also mentioned that without trade barriers, Chinese EV companies would surpass most other car manufacturers worldwide.
Tesla debuted its Optimus humanoid robot in 2022 and has been touting its potential for $10 trillion in revenue. However, since its debut, China has gained attention for advancements in humanoid robot development, with examples including Unitree’s robotic performances at the Lunar New Year gala.
The production of Optimus has been disrupted by China’s rare-earth export curbs, which have affected Tesla’s ability to obtain rare earth magnets. Musk hopes to secure a license to use these magnets, despite the challenges posed by China’s export controls.
Meanwhile, other companies like Figure AI are gaining attention in Silicon Valley for their humanoid robotics efforts, backed by prominent investors such as Nvidia and Jeff Bezos. However, Musk remains confident that Tesla will maintain its lead in humanoid robot development.
Source: https://fortune.com/asia/2025/04/23/elon-musk-worries-chinese-companies-will-fill-out-the-worlds-top-10-robot-companies-but-claims-tesla-is-and-will-stay-no-1