Hyundai Motor's 40% Production Workforce Set to Decline as AI Automation Rises

Hyundai Motor announced that 9,525 production‑line technicians—about 39% of its technical workforce—will naturally retire between 2024 and 2032, reducing its production staff by roughly 40%. The company attributes the decline to the shift toward electric and software‑defined vehicles, increased factory automation, and the introduction of physical AI robots that lower labor needs. The trend mirrors broader moves by global automakers such as GM, Volkswagen and Nissan, which are also executing large‑scale layoffs and plant closures as they invest heavily in electric‑vehicle platforms.

In parallel, Korean charging‑station operator Chaebi is advancing an AI‑driven robot system that can locate an electric‑vehicle charging port, open dust caps, plug in the connector and detach it after charging without human intervention. The project, supported by a 6.43 billion‑won grant from the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, targets full automation by the end of 2027 and will be tested at sites in Seoul’s Nowon‑gu and Gyeonggi’s Siheung‑si. The technology aims to ease charging for users with limited mobility and support the broader rollout of autonomous mobility services.