The leader of Tesla Inc.’s Optimus program is leaving the company, according to a person familiar with the matter, injecting uncertainty into the humanoid robot effort that Chief Executive Officer Elon Musk sees as a significant part of its future business. Milan Kovac, the head of engineering for Optimus, informed colleagues on Friday that he is departing effective immediately, said the person, who asked not to be identified discussing private information. Ashok Elluswamy, who leads Tesla’s Autopilot teams, will take over responsibility for Optimus, the person said. Kovac, Elluswamy and Musk didn’t respond to requests for comment. Kovac subsequently confirmed his departure on X, calling it “the most difficult decision” of his life and citing a desire to spend more time with family. Musk praised Kovac and Elluswamy in a June 2 social media post as two “key people” in the company’s artificial intelligence operations who “have been there from the beginning.” Musk is increasingly betting Tesla’s future on robotics, along with artificial intelligence and driverless cars, as the traditional electric-vehicle business faces challenges. The automaker’s sales have cratered in key markets due to lukewarm demand and a consumer backlash over the CEO’s political activity. This week, Musk’s relationship with President Donald Trump erupted into a public feud, raising further risks for Tesla on the regulatory front.

Full report : Tesla’s head of Optimus humanoid robot program, Milan Kovac is leaving the company.