Elon Musk is advancing Steve Jobs’ vision of reshoring manufacturing in America through Tesla’s Optimus robot, expected to be operational in thousands of units in factories by the end of 2025. This initiative, sparked by Jobs’ concerns over American industrial decline in the late 1980s and early 90s, aims to revolutionize production with affordable robots capable of high efficiency.
Jobs’ prototype factory in California sought to combine human and robotic capabilities for domestic manufacturing, but technological limitations prevented its success during his lifetime. Now, Musk’s Optimus robot, costing under $20,000, can perform tasks alongside human workers, potentially reshaping the American economy and revitalizing towns historically reliant on manufacturing.
Forecasts suggest Tesla’s market cap could soar from $1 trillion currently to $25 trillion by 2030, contingent on sourcing sufficient materials. As Optimus scales up production, it could lead to a resurgence in high-wage jobs and significant opportunities for suppliers and new tech firms within the emerging robot-powered economy.
