Tesla Optimus Program Chief Resigns Amid Musk-Trump Tensions

Tesla's humanoid robot program, Optimus, faces uncertainty following the departure of its engineering head, Milan Kovac, amid rumored tensions linked to CEO Elon Musk's interactions with President Donald Trump, casting doubt on the program's future and economic viability. Critics note that some prototypes rely on remote control, indicating limited autonomous capabilities and raising skepticism about Tesla's ambitious claims. Meanwhile, Tesla remains the largest global electric vehicle manufacturer, with employee salaries varying widely across roles, generally aligning with U.S. averages. The ongoing public feud between Musk and President Trump has spotlighted Tesla and Musk's other ventures' significant dependency on government contracts and regulatory approval, with ARK Invest's Cathie Wood emphasizing the risks this dependency poses amid their conflict. Despite these tensions, Wood recognizes shared ambitions between Musk and Trump for advancing technologies like autonomous mobility and space exploration, suggesting a long-term approach to managing their relationship. The feud has already impacted Tesla’s stock and could affect future government contracts crucial to Musk's enterprises.