Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla Motors, says that the company’s number one priority for the year is not producing electric vehicles. Instead, despite the many warnings of Hollywood, Musk claims the company is more focused on the Tesla Bot humanoid robot. We already have a symbiotic relationship with technology as a society, why not take things a step further? What could possibly go wrong?

Is Tesla Motors a robotics company now?

Elon Musk’s curiosity and creativity know no bounds. The gentleman who cofounded PayPal and founded SpaceX clearly refuses to be boxed in. According to CNBC, a humanoid robot is at the top of Tesla’s development agenda for 2022. This sounds shocking but considering some of Musk’s other projects like the Neuralink implantable brain-machine, it isn’t off-brand for the CEO.

Robots sound futuristic, and frankly intimidating, but we’re also on the verge of another technological revolution with emerging virtual and augmented reality tech. Humanoid robots may not be as far off as we think. If the electric vehicle company is shifting its focus to robots this year, where does that leave its automobiles?

The Tesla Bot means delays for upcoming Tesla EVs

The Tesla Cybertruck is no stranger to delays. The automaker’s shift in focus from producing more EVs to producing robots means the Cybertruck won’t hit the streets anytime soon. The $25,000 electric hatchback will also be delayed.

Elon stated that the shift in focus is because of the semiconductor chip shortage, supply issues, and inflation. Tesla would have smaller profit margins if it were to prioritize vehicle production, thus the company is temporarily changing gears. Elon also claims that the humanoid robotics manufacturing industry could have more potential than the automobile industry. Clearly he hasn’t seen any of the Terminator films or I, Robot.

The Tesla Bot leaves room for other automakers to dominate the new EV market share

Volkswagen is already giving Tesla a run for its money in Europe. American automakers like General Motors and Ford are actively working to dethrone the electric vehicle company. The Tesla Bot will leave plenty of room for the competition to gain more of the new electric vehicle market share.

Some consumers will choose electric vehicles that are readily available and more affordable over Tesla models. Tesla’s bet on robotics could end up being a costly mistake. Chevrolet plans to roll out several new electric vehicles including the Chevy Silverado EV, Chevy Equinox EV, and Chevy Blazer EV. Ford’s F-150 Lightning electric pickup truck has already captured the attention of thousands of consumers.

Will Tesla lose its spot as the top electric vehicle automaker in America because of its shift in focus, or are other automakers too far behind to catch up? Is the Tesla Bot the beginning of the end for the company that has shocked the world with its technological innovations?