Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA) faces another leadership change, this time affecting one of its most ambitious initiatives—the Optimus humanoid robot program. Milan Kovac, the project lead and vital figure in Tesla’s autonomy and AI strategy, announced his immediate resignation.

Milan Kovac’s Departure and Leadership Shift

Kovac, who joined Tesla in 2022 as Director of Optimus and Autopilot Engineering before becoming Vice President, shared his decision via a post on X (formerly Twitter), citing personal reasons:

“I’ve been far away from home for too long and will need to spend more time with family abroad. I want to make it clear that this is the only reason.”

Bloomberg reported that Ashok Elluswamy, Tesla’s current Autopilot lead, will take over Kovac’s responsibilities, indicating no major change in technical strategy for now.

The Critical Role of the Optimus Program

CEO Elon Musk has consistently stated that Tesla’s future valuation relies on two primary pillars: autonomy and Optimus. In April, he addressed how China’s export restrictions on rare-earth magnets had already delayed Optimus production.

Nonetheless, Musk remains optimistic, stating that Tesla could manufacture thousands of Optimus robots in 2025, particularly if production restrictions ease.

The Optimus robot, crafted to handle repetitive and dangerous tasks, plays a critical role in Tesla’s future strategy, parallel to its anticipated robotaxi platform.

Autonomy, Optimus, and the Valuation Challenge

Tesla’s transition from being a mere car manufacturer to an AI-first robotics and logistics platform remains a key narrative influencing investor perspectives.

Conclusion

With Milan Kovac’s resignation, investors could fear a loss in momentum for one of Tesla’s most futuristic projects. However, with Elluswamy—a seasoned figure at Tesla—now in charge, the core vision seems to be preserved. Investors are eagerly looking for tangible outputs, such as robotaxi launches, Optimus mass production, or necessary regulatory approvals, to validate the high valuation Musk insists is attainable beyond electric vehicles.