Hyundai Motor Group has appointed Milan Kovac, the former head of Tesla's Optimus humanoid robot program, as a group adviser and outside director for its robotics subsidiary Boston Dynamics. The move comes amid Hyundai's push into advanced robotics following the unveiling of its next-generation Atlas robot at CES 2026. Kovac's departure from Tesla in June 2025 had already disrupted the company's humanoid robot efforts.
Milan Kovac, a Belgian national who joined Tesla in 2016, played a pivotal role in developing the company's Autopilot driver-assistance system before taking over the Optimus humanoid robot program. He led Optimus from 2022 until his exit in June 2025, just months after being promoted to senior vice president by CEO Elon Musk. His departure contributed to disarray in the program, including an unexpected redesign and production delays, as Tesla's Optimus demonstrations have relied heavily on human teleoperation.
Hyundai announced Kovac's appointment on Friday, positioning him to contribute to strategic discussions on long-term robotics commercialization. This includes platforms like Spot, Stretch, Orbit, and the newly unveiled Atlas humanoid robot. At CES 2026 last week, Boston Dynamics showcased the production version of the all-electric Atlas, demonstrating autonomous operations in Hyundai's factories—a contrast to Tesla's approach.
The hiring aligns with Hyundai's ambitions in the physical AI market, encompassing robotics, smart factories, and autonomous vehicles. The company aims to produce 30,000 Atlas units annually by 2028 and plans to deploy tens of thousands in its manufacturing facilities as part of a $26 billion U.S. investment. Hyundai also recently appointed Park Min-woo, a former Tesla and Nvidia engineer, to lead its Advanced Vehicle Platform division and mobility software unit 42dot.
For Tesla, the loss represents a significant setback in the competitive humanoid robot space. Kovac's expertise, including overseeing Tesla's second-generation Autopilot from 2019 to 2022 and leading Optimus factory pilots before his 2024 promotion to vice president, now bolsters a direct rival. Hyundai's shares have risen over 34% since the Atlas reveal, signaling investor confidence in its robotics strategy.