Hyundai Motor Group recently shared its plans to have human-like robots join the manufacturing line by 2028. The company showcased its advanced humanoid robot, Atlas, developed by Boston Dynamics, at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) held in Las Vegas on Monday. This project is an important first step in automating and improving the quality, precision, and efficiency of the factory floor.
The Atlas robot is designed for wide-ranging industrial applications. It is more capable of collaborative interaction with human workers and autonomous in the coordination of machines. Hyundai Motor Group’s chief executive, José Muñoz, emphasized that the introduction of these robots will gradually expand their role within the company’s production lines. With the deployment of this sort of technology, Hyundai seeks greater efficiencies and productivity across its factories.
Along with debuting these humanoid robots, Hyundai Motor Group has made some pretty big investments in the U.S. The tech giant announced an investment of more than $20 billion through 2025. Strategically, their aim will be at growing OEM manufacturing capacity and leading global developments in autonomous vehicle/AI R&D. Beyond the economic impact of the investment, this financial commitment signals Hyundai’s determination to make their presence felt on the U.S. market as competition continues to mount.
Hyundai’s investment strategy comes as rival Tesla, led by CEO Elon Musk, has made significant strides in humanoid robot development with its own creation, Optimus. Automotive giants aren’t helping slow the competition down. Both companies are excited to embrace robotic technology to help make their operations more efficient and increase production capacity.
This announcement comes just days after a controversial September 2025 event. U.S. immigration officers raided the plant and arrested the majority of workers there, including at least 300 South Korean citizens. The raid led to a public outcry in South Korea. This public outcry spurred diplomatic back-channel talks between Washington and Seoul, which eventually resulted in an accord for their release. Then-South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and then-U.S. President Donald Trump personally engaged in the trilateral negotiations. They hand in hand catered to the developing complaints relating to this case.
With the integration of Atlas robots, Hyundai Motor Group is preparing for the future of smart manufacturing. Simultaneously, the giant company is addressing challenging international relations and labor matters. These cutting-edge machines are going to change the way we approach our production methods. They will reshape workforce dynamics in the automotive and other sectors as well.