Hyundai says it will deploy humanoid robots at US factory

Just nowShareSaveOsmond ChiaBusiness reporterShareSaveBoston DynamicsA version of Boston Dynamics' Atlas humanoid robot

Hyundai Motor Group says it will roll out human-like robots at a manufacturing plant in the US state of Georgia, adding to a list of companies racing to use the new technology.

The South Korean firm showed off Atlas, a humanoid robot developed by Boston Dynamics, at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas on Monday.

The announcement follows firms that plan to deploy humanoid robots on their factory floors, including Amazon, Tesla and Chinese car making giant BYD.

Hyundai plans to deploy the robots at the same plant that was involved in a massive immigration raid in 2025 that led to arrests of hundreds of workers, including at least 300 South Korean citizens.

The Atlas humanoids will begin work in 2028 and gradually take on more tasks, said Hyundai. The firm owns a majority stake in Boston Dynamics, the technology company famous for Spot the robot dog.

Atlas, which is designed for general industrial use, is being developed to work alongside people and autonomously manage machines.

Hyundai said the robots will help ease physical strain on human workers, handle potentially dangerous tasks and pave the way for wider use of the technology.

The firm did not say how many robots it would initially deploy or how much the project will cost.

Speaking at CES, Hyundai's vice chair, Jaehoon Chang, acknowledged concerns that that human workers could lose their jobs to robots. But he said people will still be needed train the robots, among other roles, the news agency Reuters reported.

Monday's announcement came after Hyundai said in 2025 that in would invest more than s plans to boost manufacturing in the country.

The firm said it would expand car production in the US and invest in autonomous driving technology and artificial intelligence (AI).

Elon Musk's electric carmaker Tesla has also invested heavily in its humanoid robot, Optimus.

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Hyundai's battery plant in Georgia, which it operates in partnership with electronics giant LG, is one of its key facilities in the US.

In September 2025, US immigration officers raided the plant.

Workers had their legs shackled in scenes that sparked outrage in South Korea.

President Lee Jae Myung and Hyundai's chief executive José Muñoz warned that the raid could deter foreign investment in the US.

Later that month, Washington and Seoul reached an agreement to release the detained workers.

Trump said he opposed the raid and that the US had an "understanding" with the world on the need to bring in experts to set up specialised facilities and train local workers.

Muñoz said in November that the White House had phoned him personally to apologise for the raid.

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Original aticle here: BBC