Tesla has shown off its Optimus robot running confidently and quickly in a lab for the first time. The new footage shows noticeable improvements in the robot’s stability, coordination, and overall motor control.
Elon Musk’s company continues to accelerate the pace of development of the humanoid, predicting mass production as early as next year at a price comparable to that of a car.
The video, titled “Just a New Personal Best in the Lab,” showcases Optimus’ improved gait and more precise motor control.
His stability, coordination, and gait control have all improved noticeably.
Previous updates have typically focused on basic skills, such as taking first steps, holding objects, and improving posture. So the new video showing the running robot seems like an achievement.
The 180 cm tall and 72 kg humanoid is equipped with more than 40 degrees of freedom, including 11 degrees of freedom in its hands for movements as close to human as possible.
Optimus operates on a 2.3 kWh battery, enough for almost a full working day.
Power consumption ranges from 100 W at rest to 500 W when walking, making it one of the most energy-efficient models among existing humanoid prototypes.
At the same time, another video has spread online comparing footage of Optimus’ development from May 2023 to December 2025.
The opening scene shows the robots hesitantly taking their first steps in a factory, while the final scene shows the model’s current state, with significantly improved balance and body control.
During the development of the project, Tesla has repeatedly demonstrated Optimus’ new capabilities.
By mid-2025, the robot was confidently performing basic assembly operations, and by the fall it had demonstrated smooth full-body movements and even kung fu training with a professional.
Although Optimus is still in development, Tesla predicts mass production in 2026 and a price drop to $20,000-30,000.
Automakers are seeing robotics as the next strategic frontier.
Amid rising labor costs and global competition, humanoid robots could become the new backbone of production lines.
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First published in this link of The European Times.