Tesla CEO Elon Musk has unveiled a prototype of his much-anticipated humanoid robot and announced mass-market production for less than $20,000.

Tesla may one day build millions of these and thus make more sales than with electric cars, said the enterprising entrepreneur during the presentation of the robot "Optimus" at Tesla's headquarters in California.

The first orders are likely to be possible in three to five years.

The mass introduction of robots has the potential to transform civilization and create a future of plenty and no poverty.

Musk has repeatedly stated that he wants to develop mass-market robots in human form that can also do ordinary jobs.

The "Optimus" presented on Friday resembles an adult human and is said to weigh 73 kilograms.

Musk presented a video showing him loading packages, sorting metal poles and watering flowers.

Tesla also presented a more advanced model on stage, but one that moved more angularly than the one initially shown.

There is still a lot to do in development, Musk said.

In five or ten years, however, Optimus will probably be "incredible".

Existing humanoid robots lack a brain and the ability to solve problems independently.

In contrast, Optimus is an “extremely capable robot,” enthused Musk, whose predictions have repeatedly proven to be overly optimistic, for example in the area of ​​autonomous driving.

Toyota and Honda are also working on it

Experts were impressed by how quickly Tesla is progressing in development.

However, there is still a lot to do.

It is also unclear what the exact purpose should be so that Tesla can sell millions of them.

Other companies, such as carmakers Toyota and Honda, have developed prototype humanoid robots that can perform complicated tasks like throwing a basketball.

There are also production robots, which are an important pillar in automobile production, for example.

Tesla, on the other hand, wants to develop a robot for the mass market on a large scale.

"We're trying to find the fastest route to a useful robot that can be mass-produced," Musk said.

He also described the presentation as an event to attract highly skilled workers.

Musk also wants to make Tesla a leader in artificial intelligence.

But it is important that all considerations are checked by Tesla shareholders, joked the 51-year-old entrepreneur, who was on stage in a black leather jacket.

"If I go insane, you can fire me."

Musk has already initiated and promoted various ideas in his entrepreneurial career: In 1995 he founded an Internet company, which he resold.

Later he was a co-founder and partner of the PayPal payment service.

The aerospace company SpaceX followed in 2002, which wants to drastically reduce the costs of space transport and bring people to Mars, for example.

In 2004 he joined Tesla, which is now the most valuable carmaker in the world.

He is also pursuing many other projects.

With an estimated fortune of more than $270 billion, Musk is considered the richest person in the world.