Elon Musk Sets Tesla’s New Mission: “Sustainable Abundance” Through Humanoid Robots

Elon Musk has once again shifted the boundaries of Tesla’s vision, announcing a bold new mission centered around what he calls “sustainable abundance.” During Tesla’s latest third-quarter earnings call, Musk emphasised that the company’s future lies beyond electric vehicles and clean energy—it’s about transforming human life through robotics and artificial intelligence.

At the heart of this vision is Tesla’s Optimus humanoid robot, a project Musk claims could one day help eliminate poverty. While Optimus has so far only made brief public appearances—most notably pouring popcorn at a demo—Musk insists the robot’s development is advancing rapidly and could soon redefine the global economy.

“We’re excited about the updated mission of Tesla, which is sustainable abundance,” Musk declared.

He explained that Tesla’s mission has evolved from creating sustainable energy solutions to fostering a future where technology ensures prosperity for all.

“So going beyond sustainable energy to, say, sustainable abundance is the mission, where we believe with Optimus and self-driving, that you can actually create a world where there is no poverty, where everyone has access to the finest medical care. Optimus will be an incredible surgeon, for example. And imagine if everyone had access to an incredible surgeon.”

Though the idea of robots performing surgeries might sound far-fetched today, Musk’s statements underline his broader belief that automation could eventually free humans from most forms of labour. He envisions a world where intelligent machines take over repetitive and specialized tasks, leading to a society of greater efficiency and equality.

Tesla’s humanoid project, however, is still in its early stages. Musk announced that Optimus Version 3 will debut in early 2026, with plans to scale production to one million units per year—an ambitious goal that could make it one of the company’s most significant undertakings yet.

“We're also on the cusp of something really tremendous with Optimus, which I think is likely to be, or has potential, to be the biggest product of all time,” Musk said, admitting that large-scale humanoid manufacturing would be “an incredibly difficult task.”

In true Musk fashion, the announcement also had a financial angle. He hinted that further development of Optimus would depend on Tesla shareholders approving a new CEO pay package, reportedly worth up to $1 trillion. Musk argued that he would not feel “comfortable building a robot army” unless he maintained greater control over Tesla’s long-term direction.

Musk’s grand vision of automation leading to a poverty-free world has captivated futurists and economists alike, though skeptics note that such utopian outcomes remain far from reality. For now, the Optimus robot is still confined to demonstration stages, far from the sophisticated machine Musk describes.

Yet, as history has shown, when Musk sets a goal, the world tends to take notice. Whether Optimus becomes a breakthrough innovation or just another futuristic promise, Tesla’s pivot from sustainable energy to sustainable abundance signals a new era for the company—and perhaps, for humanity itself.