The article "Leader announces exit from Tesla" was first published on TheStreet. Tesla (TSLA) is preparing for another leadership change as Elon Musk returns to Tesla (TSLA) amid an ongoing disagreement with President Donald Trump. The automaker has expanded into other areas of technology in recent years, prompting its leaders to consistently remind investors that it is more than just a car company. Musk has emphasized Tesla's Optimus program, a division that creates humanoid robotic technology, in particular. Make sure you don't miss the move by signing up for TheStreet's free daily newsletter.
The Tesla CEO hasn’t downplayed Tesla’s progress in this area, describing its Optimus bot as the “most sophisticated humanoid robot on earth,” and describing a future in which humans are outnumbered by robots. This may sound like the plot of a science fiction novel, but Musk has made it clear he believes it is an inevitable phase of technology.
However, there may be a new obstacle in the way of his robotic ambitions. According to recent reports, the program’s leader is leaving Tesla.
As its leader leaves, Musk is betting big on a division. Aside from Musk, a lot of Tesla's leaders aren't well-known because they usually work behind the scenes to help build and run the company's different divisions. But on June 6, Milan Kovac revealed he would step down from his position as vice president of engineering at Optimus.
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Kovac discussed his future plans in a post on X, stating that he felt the need to spend more time with his family overseas. He added, reiterating his support for Tesla and Musk, "I want to make it clear that this is the only reason, and has absolutely nothing to do with anything else." Kovac joined the company in 2016, initially as a staff software engineer at Tesla’s Autopilot division. He spent years advancing through these ranks, ultimately being named director and later vice president of Optimus.
Kovac had a significant impact on Tesla's autopilot and robotic humanoid technology during his time there. His LinkedIn profile states that he was responsible for "driving the engineering teams responsible for all the software foundations and infrastructure common to Optimus and Autopilot," assisting in the advancement of both divisions. Kovac’s departure seems to be due to strictly personal reasons and appears unrelated to any controversy surrounding Musk or Tesla. But his swift exit comes at a difficult time for the company, as it prepares for an event on which Musk has hinged much of its growth prospects.
Tesla intends to introduce its fleet of self-driving robotaxis in Austin, Texas, on June 12, fulfilling a promise made by Musk to Tesla's investors and loyalists for some time.
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