Milan Kovac, Head Of Tesla Optimus Program, Departs - CleanTechnica

Milan Kovac, the head of engineering for Tesla's Optimus humanoid robot program, announced his departure on June 6, 2025, citing a desire to spend more time with his family. Despite initial speculation about possible conflicts with Elon Musk, Kovac expressed strong support for Musk and confidence in the Tesla team’s ability to advance the Optimus project. Tesla confirmed that Ashok Elluswamy, head of the Autopilot team, will assume leadership of the Optimus program. Both Kovac and Musk exchanged respectful public statements, indicating an amicable transition without signs of urgency or internal strife. Elon Musk continues to position Optimus as a transformative product, claiming it could be Tesla’s most significant development ever, with a target price around $30,000. Musk envisions the robot performing everyday tasks such as folding clothes, walking dogs, and cleaning dishes, and he has publicly declared that autonomy and Optimus are Tesla’s long-term priorities. However, skepticism remains among observers and industry watchers, who note that Tesla’s promotional videos—like the one showing Optimus folding a shirt—are staged and that the robot is not yet capable of autonomous operation. Critics draw parallels to previous Tesla hype cycles, such as with Full Self-Driving (FSD) technology, suggesting that Optimus may be similarly overpromised and years away from practical reality. Overall, while Kovac’s departure marks a leadership change, Tesla’s commitment to the Optimus project remains firm under Musk’s vision. Yet, the program faces scrutiny over its current capabilities versus public expectations, highlighting the challenges Tesla faces in delivering on its ambitious humanoid robot goals.