Tesla's Optimus Program Sees Leadership Change as VP Milan Kovac Departs

Milan Kovac, a key figure leading engineering for Tesla's Optimus humanoid robot, is reportedly leaving the company. The news, first reported by Bloomberg News on June 6, 2025, comes at a critical juncture as CEO Elon Musk has articulated ambitious plans for scaling Optimus production.

Kovac Addresses Departure in Personal Statement

Following the initial reports, Kovac posted a personal statement on X, confirming what he called "the most difficult decision of my life." He cited personal reasons for the move, stating, "I’ve been far away from home for too long, and will need to spend more time with family abroad."

Crucially, he sought to preempt speculation about other motives. "I want to make it clear that this is the only reason, and has absolutely nothing to do with anything else," Kovac wrote. He expressed "ironclad" support for Elon Musk and the team, adding a guarantee that "Tesla will win."

Kovac's Decade-Long Tenure and Optimus Role

Kovac has been with Tesla for nearly ten years, making significant contributions to the Autopilot team before transitioning to helm aspects of the Optimus project in 2022. He was appointed Vice President overseeing the humanoid program in late 2024. His role, as he previously described on his LinkedIn profile, involved "driving the Optimus program (Tesla’s humanoid robot) & all its engineering teams." He also noted spearheading "the engineering teams responsible for all the software foundations & infrastructure common between Optimus and Autopilot," highlighting the synergy between Tesla's vehicular and robotic AI.

In his farewell post, Kovac reflected on this transition: "The transition to build & lead the Optimus group early 2022, when we had nothing but a couple Kuka arms arranged upside-down, was of another level for me. We had to build an entire platform: hardware & software all at once."

Departure Amidst Aggressive Production Targets

Kovac's departure occurs amidst particularly bold pronouncements from Musk regarding Optimus. In May 2025, Musk stated Tesla aims to have "thousands" of Optimus units operating in its factories by the end of the year, with plans to "scale Optimus up faster than any product...to get to millions of units per year as soon as possible." Such rapid scaling would represent an unprecedented manufacturing and deployment challenge for a complex humanoid robot.

Succession and Continued AI Synergy

According to Bloomberg's report, Ashok Elluswamy, Tesla’s Vice President of AI software, will now lead the Optimus project. Elluswamy has been a central figure in the development of Tesla's Autopilot and Full Self-Driving (FSD) software. His appointment suggests a continued close strategic alignment and shared technological underpinnings between Tesla's automotive AI initiatives and its robotics ambitions.

Implications and Unanswered Questions

The departure of a high-level leader like Kovac, particularly during a period of intense focus on scaling, inevitably raises questions about a program's trajectory. While Kovac's statement provides a clear personal reason for his exit and strong support for the company's direction, the transition will still be closely watched within the robotics industry, particularly concerning its potential impact on Optimus development timelines and the feasibility of achieving Musk's ambitious production goals.

The Optimus project, much like Tesla's automotive endeavors, is heavily reliant on continuous advancements in AI and its robust application in real-world scenarios—areas where both Kovac and his successor Elluswamy possess deep expertise. This leadership change underscores the high stakes and dynamic nature of the race to develop and deploy capable humanoid robots.