Hyundai Union Objects to Robot Introduction... How Are BMW and Mercedes Handling It?

The Hyundai Motor Union is expressing concerns about the potential employment impacts of introducing humanoid robots like Atlas in production lines, while European automakers are cautiously adopting robots for limited processes. Hyundai plans to deploy Atlas robots at its Georgia plant starting in 2028, beginning with sequencing tasks and expanding to assembly by 2030. BMW has tested Figure 02 robots in South Carolina for welding support and is now using Figure 03 for logistics sequencing, featuring safety-enhancing soft exteriors, tactile sensors, and voice communication. Mercedes is also piloting humanoid robots at its Leipzig plant, albeit on a smaller scale, focusing on repetitive, precision-demanding tasks.