Tesla’s ambitious humanoid robot project, Optimus, undergoes significant leadership transition. Milan Kovac, who led the effort since 2022 and was promoted to a Vice President in a year ago, made an announcement of leaving for spending more time with family outside the country. Tesla has chosen Indian-origin Ashok Elluswamy, now the head of Tesla’s Autopilot group, to head the Optimus robot project in the future.
Milan Kovac’s departure is a surprise to some but is entirely for personal reasons. Milan Kovac, in a tweet on X (formerly Twitter), confirmed he is departing right away. Ashok Elluswamy will now bear the responsibility of fulfilling Tesla’s vision for humanoid robots.
This tweet 9 years ago was how I started the Autopilot, now AI, team at Tesla.
Ashok, who now leads the team, was the first person I interviewed.
Milan, who leads Optimus, also joined very early.
Many of the key people in Tesla AI have been there from the beginning. https://t.co/yck84sSS0X
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) June 2, 2025
Milan Kovac’s Legacy and Departure
Milan Kovac came to Tesla at an early stage of the AI adventure. He became responsible for the Optimus program in 2022 and rose rapidly to become a Vice President. He oversaw the project during crucial stages of development, setting the stage for Tesla’s goal of producing thousands of robots this year. It was more difficult to work under his leadership because of China’s export ban on rare-earth magnets.
Despite the challenges, he helped the team come together and set definite goals for Optimus. His decision to step down reflects his wish to care for his family while making sure the program is run by capable individuals.
Ashok Elluswamy: A Veteran Tesla AI Leader
Ashok Elluswamy’s promotion highlights his pivotal role in the development of Tesla’s AI. He leads Tesla’s Autopilot team, which is in charge of full self-driving software and sophisticated AI systems. Elon Musk publicly complimented Ashok on his work.
Indeed, Elon Musk recently retweeted a 2015 tweet where he pointed out how Ashok Elluswamy was the first individual he interviewed in order to assemble Tesla’s Autopilot team. Elon Musk observed that most critical AI leaders, such as Kovac and Elluswamy, were part of Tesla in its formative stages, designing its AI destiny.
What’s Next for Tesla’s Optimus Program?
Under Ashok Elluswamy, Tesla is looking to speed up the development of Optimus. The company still hopes to manufacture thousands of human-like robots in 2025. Ashok Elluswamy’s strong AI background and Autopilot leadership experience make him a good bet to spearhead this challenge.
Tesla observers will closely watch now how the leadership change affects Optimus’ development in the face of changing technology and supply chain issues.
