Mitsubishi Motors and Highlanders to Mass-Produce Humanoid Robots

Mitsubishi Motors and Highlanders, a startup from the University of Tokyo, have entered a joint venture to develop and mass-produce humanoid physical AI robots. Under a Memorandum of Understanding, the partners will utilize unused space at a Mitsubishi plant in Kyoto, Japan, to reach a production target of approximately 1,000 units per month starting as early as 2027.

The robots stand 175 centimeters tall and weigh 75 kilograms. They are designed to perform welding, logistics, and engine assembly on Mitsubishi's own production lines to improve efficiency and mitigate labor shortages. The companies plan to use operational data from these deployments to guide further development, and Mitsubishi may eventually sell the robots to other manufacturers.

This collaboration aims to challenge the market dominance of U.S. and Chinese tech giants by leveraging Japanese manufacturing safety standards and technical capabilities. The partnership seeks to create an industrial environment where humans and robots work together, while simultaneously expanding the automaker's technological expertise in humanoid robotics.