BMW Spartanburg plant deploys Figure 03 humanoid robot for logistics

BMW Group is expanding its use of “Physical AI” by introducing the next‑generation humanoid robot Figure 03 at its Spartanburg, South Carolina plant. After a successful eleven‑month pilot with Figure 02, which helped assemble over 30,000 X3 vehicles, Figure 03 now handles a sequencing task: it picks unsorted sheet‑metal parts from bulk containers, arranges them in a designated tray and delivers them to the assembly line just‑in‑sequence.

The robot features tactile sensors, cameras in its hands, wireless charging, audio communication and an advanced whole‑body control system called Helix 02, a vision‑language‑action model that coordinates arms, torso and legs. This enables precise pick‑and‑place as well as the ability to pull heavy carts while adjusting foot placement, a capability the source notes is difficult for traditional fixed automation.

BMW and Figure AI present the deployment as proof that humanoid robots can perform flexible, high‑precision logistics work in real‑world automotive production, potentially paving the way for broader adoption across the industry.