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A Tesla researcher who worked on Optimus is planning to launch a humanoid robot in Europe
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Fusion42 · 8 July 2026 · Fusion42 review
Former Tesla Optimus researcher Remi Caden is launching Universal Mechanical Assistant (UMA), a Paris-based humanoid robotics startup targeting European manufacturing, logistics, and domestic markets with a wheeled, lightweight robot using real-time learning. The company has 50 active client negotiations and aims to deliver a test prototype by year-end, backed by investors including Xavier Niel and Yann LeCun as adviser.
This Wire brief sits within Fusion42's coverage of Robotics.
◆ ◆ The Wire takeaway
European humanoid robotics is moving from research to commercialisation with credible Tesla/DeepMind talent, regional labour-cost tailwinds, and active enterprise pipeline—founders in automation, logistics, and manufacturing should track UMA's prototype delivery and market entry as a competitive/partnership signal.
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1 source · 7 Jul 2026
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