# Automakers deployment of robotic technologies

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/automakers-deployment-of-robotic-technologies
> Updated: 2026-08-16T09:57:08.000Z. Sources: 11. Developments: 3.

Automotive manufacturers are expanding the use of robotics to improve operational efficiency and space management. Major companies including BMW, Hyundai, and Mercedes-Benz are testing humanoid robots in manufacturing plants to handle logistics tasks such as moving parts and carts. At a BMW facility in Spartanburg, South Carolina, these AI-equipped machines are being used to pick up parts and move carts. While currently slower than human workers, they are designed to navigate existing floors without major infrastructure modifications and can respond to voice commands.

Proponents suggest these robots can mitigate skilled labor shortages and help Western manufacturers compete with lower-cost Chinese competitors. However, labor advocates like the United Auto Workers (UAW) have labeled the technology a “severe threat” to human workers, and economists have warned of potential wage reductions or worker displacement.

In a separate application, Hyundai is piloting autonomous parking robots in South Korea. This collaborative effort between Hyundai Motor, Hyundai WIA, and Hyundai E&C involves slim, 110 mm thick platforms that slide underneath vehicles. Using LiDAR sensors, the robots can lift and transport vehicles weighing up to 3,400 kg at speeds of 4.3 km/h. 

A pilot program is being conducted in a residential complex in Siheung, southwest of Seoul, to test the system in an underground garage with 53 spaces. By positioning cars extremely close together and eliminating the need for space to open doors, the technology aims to increase parking capacity by 20 to 50 percent. Drivers can request vehicle retrieval via a digital terminal or kiosk.

## Timeline

### 2026-08-16: Hyundai develops robots to increase parking capacity by up to 50%

Hyundai is developing small, Lidar-equipped robots that can lift and move vehicles to increase parking capacity by up to 50 percent, with pilot testing planned in Sihung, South Korea.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/hyundai-develops-robots-to-increase-parking-capacity-by-up-to-50

### 2026-08-12: Hyundai tests autonomous robots to increase garage capacity by 50%

Hyundai is testing autonomous parking robots in Siheung, South Korea, that can increase garage capacity by up to 50% by maneuvering vehicles into tight spaces.

5 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/hyundai-tests-autonomous-robots-to-increase-garage-capacity-by-50

### 2026-08-12: Automakers deploy humanoid robots to increase factory efficiency

Automakers like BMW and Hyundai are integrating humanoid robots into factories to automate logistics and part sorting, aiming to boost productivity despite concerns over labor displacement.

4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/automakers-deploy-humanoid-robots-to-increase-factory-efficiency

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Cite as: Automakers deployment of robotic technologies. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/automakers-deployment-of-robotic-technologies