Hyundai Motor Group recently shared its lofty vision of implementing humanoid robots, called Atlas, into its factory lines. Boston Dynamics originally created Atlas for industrial applications. Whether supporting human operators or autonomously running machines themselves, this robot is guided by the desire to create a safer workplace and brighter future. Their rollout is scheduled to start in 2028 at a new manufacturing plant in Georgia, USA.
Atlas was introduced at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) this year in Las Vegas. The crowd was amazed as the robot opened doors, picked up litter, and waved an American flag. Hyundai imagines a day when Atlas humanoids will handle more duties inside their factories. Transitioning to a paperless environment will improve the flow of operations and increase their productivity. José Muñoz, Hyundai’s chief executive, emphasized the company’s commitment to investing in autonomous driving technology and artificial intelligence (AI) to complement the integration of humanoid robots.
This strategic move comes as they face incredibly intense scrutiny after a raid on Hyundai’s new plant by US immigration officers in September of 2025. The action drew widespread condemnation in South Korea, especially after reports that workers were chained to the table during the raid. In a joint op-ed, South Korea’s President Lee Jae Myung and former DOT secretary Muñoz warned that such moves might scare away foreign direct investment in the U.S. Because of this, the White House had to issue a personal apology to Muñoz for the raid.
Even with these difficulties, Hyundai is still hopeful about its prospects going forward in the US market. In 2025, the company announced plans to invest over $20 billion in the United States, further solidifying its presence in the automotive industry. Atlas is a robust solution that significantly increases productivity. It also addresses the acute manufacturing workforce shortages.
Clearly, competition in the humanoid robot sector is getting fierce. Tesla’s Elon Musk is betting big on his own humanoid robot venture, known as Optimus. As companies race to develop advanced robotics for industrial applications, Hyundai’s initiative with Atlas marks a pivotal moment in the automotive sector.
