South Korean automotive giant Hyundai announced plans to deploy human-like robots in car manufacturing plants worldwide starting in 2028, amid fierce competition in the large industry rapidly adapting to the AI era.
Hyundai Motor Group, a major South Korean automaker, unveiled "Atlas," a humanoid robot developed by Boston Dynamics, at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2026 in Las Vegas, USA. The company stated it will gradually integrate this robotic system into its global factory network.
Hyundai stated that Atlas will be deployed in several factories, including one in Georgia, USA, which previously made headlines due to a major immigration raid in 2025.
Atlas is designed for general industrial use, capable of working alongside humans and performing automated tasks such as machine operation, heavy lifting, or working in hazardous environments.
Hyundai, a major shareholder in Boston Dynamics, said the Atlas robot will initially handle basic duties before expanding to more complex tasks in the future.
Hyundai emphasized that deploying humanoid robots will reduce human labor burdens and increase safety in risky jobs but did not disclose the number of robots to be used initially or the project’s budget.
During his speech at CES, Hyundai Vice Chairman Jaehun Chang acknowledged societal concerns that robots might replace human workers but insisted that humans will remain essential for training and controlling robots, technical and managerial roles, and AI system development and maintenance.
This announcement follows Hyundai’s 2025 declaration of over $20 billion in investments in the United States, aligning with President Donald Trump’s policy to boost domestic manufacturing. The investment covers expanding U.S. car production capacity, autonomous vehicle technology, and artificial intelligence (AI).
Besides Hyundai, many global companies are accelerating development and deployment of humanoid robots, such as Amazon, Tesla with its Optimus robot, and BYD, the Chinese electric vehicle giant. Hyundai’s move is seen as a significant step toward fully realizing smart factories in the global automotive industry.
,BBC
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