Hyundai plans 30,000 Atlas robots a year, BMW adds humanoid AEON to Leipzig plant

Hyundai Motor Group is reorganising its production system to launch a "software‑defined factory" for humanoid robots. The company aims to manufacture 30,000 Atlas units annually from 2028, consolidating component procurement and expanding integration into its U.S. plant in Georgia. Union representatives have raised concerns, demanding clear rules on collective‑bargaining and employment protection.

BMW Group announced that from this summer its Leipzig plant in eastern Germany will start using a fleet of AEON humanoid robots developed by Hexagon Robotics. The 1.65‑metre, 60‑kg machines will work eight‑hour shifts handling high‑voltage battery assembly and structural‑component production, replacing physically demanding tasks. The deployment follows a year‑long pilot at BMW’s Spartanburg, South Carolina facility, where the robots processed over 90,000 sheet‑metal parts for the X3 crossover.