Hyundai Motor Group announced on 8 January 2026 that it will deploy humanoid robots across its manufacturing operations from 2028, starting in the United States, as the company expands AI-led production systems to improve safety and factory efficiency.
What changed in Hyundai’s robotics strategy
Hyundai confirmed that its Atlas humanoid robots will begin work at the company’s upcoming Georgia manufacturing plant. The robots come from Boston Dynamics, which Hyundai owns. The company revealed the production-ready Atlas model at CES in Las Vegas.
Atlas supports general industrial tasks. It lifts loads of up to 50 kilograms and operates in temperatures between –20°C and 40°C. The robot uses human-scale hands and tactile sensors to handle factory operations that require precision.
How Hyundai plans to use humanoid robots
Hyundai will assign Atlas robots to parts sequencing and logistics tasks from 2028. The company will expand their responsibilities only after safety and quality data meet internal benchmarks. By 2030, Hyundai expects the robots to assist with component assembly and repetitive production work.
This rollout forms part of the car maker’s “physical AI” roadmap. The strategy connects AI-powered robots with real factory environments. They are working with Nvidia and Google to improve autonomous decision-making and reduce workplace risk.
Impact on factory workers
It has been said humanoid robots will support workers rather than replace them. Humans will continue to manage supervision, training, quality checks, programming, and operations planning. The company said the robots will focus on dangerous, physically demanding, and repetitive tasks.
Hyundai executive Jaehoon Chang acknowledged concerns about job losses. He said new roles will emerge in robot training, monitoring, and maintenance. Labor unions have already started calling for safeguards and retraining frameworks as automation expands.
Investment plans and production capacity
Hyundai will open the Robot Metaplant Application Center in the US in 2026. The center will train robots by converting human movements such as lifts and turns into AI learning data. By 2028, robots trained at the facility will begin factory deployment.
Hyundai said it aims to produce 30,000 robot units annually by 2028. The company will build a new US-based robotics facility to support this target. Hyundai has previously committed over $20 billion to US manufacturing, autonomous driving, and AI development.
