Hyundai Motor Group recently announced plans to put humanoid robots into its factories as soon as 2028. This decision is a major step towards making the innovative automotive future envisioned by intelligent transportation technology enthusiasts a reality. The South Korean company introduced its humanoid robot, Atlas, at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas on Monday. This incredible piece of art and technology was brought to life in partnership with Boston Dynamics.
Hyundai’s chief executive, José Muñoz, emphasized the company’s commitment to enhancing car production in the United States. He also announced that Hyundai would invest over $20 billion (£15.5 billion) within the US by 2025. Their biggest priority is going to be continuing to push into autonomous driving and artificial intelligence (AI). This investment supports President Donald Trump’s Manufacturing and job creation agenda by Making it in America.
The Atlas robots are intended for typical industrial robotics applications. In particular, they must assume greater responsibility over the course of the production process. They are designed to be in tandem with and supportive of human workers, but crucially perform a wide range of tasks autonomously. Robots like these are intended to make operations more efficient and more productive within Hyundai’s manufacturing plants.
A disturbing story broke in September 2025 when US immigration agents stormed a Hyundai factory to arrest undocumented workers. This massive operation resulted in mass raids on hundreds of workers, and in the arrests of hundreds, including the direct arrest of over 300 South Korean citizens. Images of the detained workers, some with their legs shackled, set off widespread anger in South Korea. This uncertainty was troubling because of its potential impact on foreign direct investment (FDI) in the United States. Future investments in Korea at risk Both President Lee Jae Myung and CEO José Muñoz clearly stated that these types of moves could scare off future investments.
After the outcry, the White House got in touch with José Muñoz directly, to offer an apology from the White House for the raid. Following negotiations, Washington and Seoul reached an agreement to release the detained workers, alleviating some of the tensions between the two nations.
As Hyundai looks toward its new investments and technology developments, it finds itself in a competitive race with other industry leaders. Almost as conspicuously, Tesla, under the leadership of Elon Musk, has made its own bet on humanoid robot tech in a big way with its creation Optimus. These progressive moves by both companies are part of a new trend throughout the entire automotive industry to embrace automation and AI.