South Korea’s Hyundai Motor Group has announced plans to deploy humanoid robots at its manufacturing facility in the US state of Georgia starting in 2028, marking a significant step towards automating higher-risk and repetitive factory tasks.
Atlas robot unveiled at CES
The company revealed the production version of the Atlas, developed by its subsidiary Boston Dynamics, at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas on Monday.
Hyundai said it aims to build a dedicated facility capable of manufacturing up to 30,000 humanoid robots annually by 2028. While the company did not disclose the cost of the robots, it confirmed that the long-term plan is to expand their use across all Hyundai manufacturing sites worldwide.
Focus on ‘physical AI’
According to Hyundai, the robots will initially be used for parts sequencing tasks at the Georgia plant from 2028. Their role will gradually expand as safety, efficiency and quality improvements are validated. By 2030, Atlas robots are expected to assist in component assembly, with a longer-term goal of handling heavy loads, repetitive motions and complex operations.
The initiative is part of Hyundai’s broader push into “physical AI”, referring to artificial intelligence systems embedded in hardware that can sense real-world environments and make autonomous decisions.
Reducing strain on human workers
Hyundai said the humanoid robots are designed to reduce physical strain on workers by taking on higher-risk and repetitive tasks, rather than replacing human labour outright. Atlas features human-scale hands with tactile sensing and can lift loads of up to 50 kg. It can operate autonomously in industrial environments ranging from –20°C to 40°C.
At Hyundai affiliate Kia, labour unions have already called for dialogue on potential labour rights issues as automation expands. Addressing such concerns, Hyundai Motor vice-chair Jaehoon Chang said people would still be required to maintain, train and supervise robots, and that new roles would emerge as automation grows.
Partnerships with AI leaders
Hyundai expects humanoid robots to become the largest segment of the physical AI market, which spans robotics, smart factories and autonomous driving. The company noted that similar sensing and decision-making technologies underpin both robotics and self-driving vehicles.
To accelerate development, Hyundai is collaborating with global technology leaders including Nvidia and Google, focusing on improving safety, efficiency and real-world deployment of humanoid robots.
Industry observers say Hyundai’s move signals how major automakers are increasingly betting on embodied AI to reshape manufacturing over the next decade.