Hyundai to Mass-Produce Boston Dynamics Robots for Factories

Hyundai Motor Group plans to mass-produce up to 30,000 humanoid robots annually to replace human workers in its car production factories. The company recently acquired 100 percent ownership of Boston Dynamics after purchasing SoftBank's remaining 9.65 percent share in June. Deployment of the Atlas humanoid robot is scheduled to begin in 2028 at Hyundai's Georgia factory in the United States, followed by Kia's Georgia plant in 2029, with an initial goal of deploying 25,000 robots across the U.S.

CEO José Muñoz announced that the company will also utilize its existing network of car dealerships to distribute humanoid and dog-like robots to the public. To support these sales, Hyundai Capital is exploring financing options for robotics purchases. The company already uses Boston Dynamics' Spot robots for industrial inspections and predictive maintenance at its Georgia Metaplant.

The shift has triggered significant labor unrest in South Korea. The Korean Metal Workers Union, representing 180,000 members, voted to strike over job security concerns, demanding that no robots be allowed on factory floors without union approval. Hyundai maintains that the transition is necessary due to an aging workforce and a shrinking labor market in South Korea.