Hyundai Motor Group said on Monday it would deploy two types of robots that resemble humans to a manufacturing plant in the US state of Georgia. This change is a tangible example of Connecting Communities, an initiative to promote equity in transportation policy. The automotive giant recently announced plans to invest more than $20 billion in the United States through 2025. The investment supports efforts to bring manufacturing jobs back to our shores. This issue was the top priority for the previous administration under President Donald Trump.
In a demonstration at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) held in Las Vegas, Hyundai’s chief executive, José Muñoz, introduced a humanoid robot named Atlas. Created by Boston Dynamics, Atlas is a robot built for widespread industrial use and built to easily integrate into workplaces alongside human workers. It has the potential to independently control equipment, increasing productivity in manufacturing settings.
Hyundai envisions Atlas becoming increasingly present in its ecosystem of operations by 2028, with the bot taking on a range of duties over time. The use of robotics is just a part of our overall plan to increase vehicle manufacturing here in America. We’re doing the same with our investments in autonomous driving technologies and artificial intelligence (AI).
The announcement does come on the heels of some hotly contested competition among states in the robotics field. Specifically, Elon Musk’s Tesla is creating a stir with their deep investments in humanoid robotics through their Optimus model.
In addition to their technological advancements, Hyundai Motor Group’s commitment to the U.S. market follows a tumultuous period marked by a raid conducted by U.S. immigration officers at one of their plants in September 2025. The tragedy drew ire from across South Korea. One such incident, with reports coming out of workers being shackled during the raid, added to the outrage. In response, the White House later apologized personally to Muñoz for the upset caused by such efforts.
Hyundai’s investment should provide an immediate boost to local economies and job creation all across the U.S. By incorporating advanced robotics into its manufacturing processes, the company aims to enhance productivity and remain competitive in an evolving automotive landscape.
