Tesla unveils Master Plan IV centered on AI and humanoid robots

Tesla’s chief executive unveiled an ambitious Master Plan Part IV this week that places artificial intelligence, full self driving and humanoid robots at the center of the company’s future, even as the automaker faces a sharp sales downturn in key markets. Elon Musk wrote on X that Tesla is “building the products and services that bring AI into the physical world,” and said he believes Optimus, the company’s humanoid robot project, could eventually account for about 80 percent of Tesla’s value.

The plan sketches a shift away from a business defined primarily by electric vehicles toward one in which software, robotics and renewable-energy services drive long-term growth. Musk also posted that Master Plan Part Deux will be completed by 2026 and described the prior Master Plan 3 as “too complex,” signaling a desire for a clearer, more concise strategic roadmap.

The announcement comes amid mounting pressures on Tesla’s core auto business. Data from the European Automobile Manufacturers Association showed Tesla sold 8,837 vehicles in Europe in July, a 40.2 percent decline from the same month last year, cutting its market share to 0.8 percent from 1.4 percent. Through July, Tesla’s...