On the Dash:
- Hyundai will begin using Atlas humanoid robots in its manufacturing plants in Georgia starting in 2028.
- The robots will first handle repetitive tasks, with more complex assembly roles planned by 2030.
- The rollout supports Hyundai’s broader multibillion-dollar investment in AI, robotics, and factory automation.
Hyundai said it will begin deploying its latest Atlas humanoid robots in manufacturing plants starting in 2028, including at a new factory in Savannah, Georgia, as the automaker steps up its push into artificial intelligence and advanced automation.
The robots, developed by Hyundai’s Boston Dynamics unit, will initially handle repetitive tasks such as sequencing components before installation. The company said at the CES technology conference in Las Vegas that more complex assembly work is planned by 2030.
The newest Atlas humanoid features human-scale hands with tactile sensing, fully rotational joints and the ability to lift up to 110 pounds. Particularly, the automaker said the robot can operate in temperatures ranging from minus 4 degrees Fahrenheit to 104 degrees Fahrenheit.
While Hyundai plans to mass-produce up to 30,000 humanoid robots a year at a new U.S. facility as part of a broader strategy to integrate AI with robotics, Executive Chair Chung Euisun has said that adopting advanced AI is critical to staying competitive.
Automakers have increasingly turned to automation to cut labor costs and improve worker safety, while also exploring AI-driven opportunities in manufacturing and vehicle technology.
Hyundai’s move comes amid growing competition in humanoid robotics. For instance, Tesla is developing its Optimus robot, Chinese EV maker Xpeng has unveiled its Iron humanoid, and Toyota operates an advanced robotics program and, in 2024, partnered with Hyundai to accelerate development.
Hyundai said it expects humanoids to become the largest segment of the physical AI market and aims to deploy Atlas robots at scale across industrial sites.
Hyundai launched its Robotics Lab in 2019 and acquired Boston Dynamics in 2021. The company plans to invest 125 trillion won in South Korea over the next five years in AI, robotics, and other technologies, along with $26 billion in the U.S. through 2028.
