Hyundai Motor Group certainly has some thrilling ideas in store. Beginning in 2028, they’ll incorporate humanoid robots—including the sophisticated Atlas model developed by Boston Dynamics—into their production line. At Hyundai’s press conference during the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, Hyundai put Atlas front and center. This agile and exemplar industrial robot can be used to jointly work in close company with human operators or autonomously manage an entire fleet of machines.
In short, Atlas is designed for broad industrial application and is a giant step forward in robotics technology. Collaborating closely with humans, the humanoid Asset robot maximizes productivity and worker security on factory floors. Hyundai’s chief executive, José Muñoz, emphasized the importance of this venture as part of the company’s broader strategy to modernize manufacturing through automation.
Hyundai is already making a big bet with investments in the United States. In 2025, these partners went all-in, committing more than $20 billion to drive the rapid development of Atlas. This investment is expected to contribute to the advancement of technological innovation and strengthening of Hyundai’s competitiveness in the rapidly changing global automotive market. Atlas and other robots like it are poised to change the game on how productive Hyundai factories can be. Over time, they’ll assume more responsibilities across a wider scope of activities currently performed by human workers.
Hyundai’s move into humanoid robotics comes at a time when other major players in the automotive industry, such as Elon Musk’s Tesla, are investing heavily in similar technologies. Tesla’s Optimus robot is designed to perform tasks that can enhance operations within their own manufacturing facilities, further illustrating the industry’s shift toward automation.
Atlas robots are starting to go out into the wild with task-specific programming baked in. Eventually, they will grow the short-term gains into longer-term roles. This incremental introduction is designed to allow for efficient teamwork between human workers and robots. By collaborating as one, they will increase efficiency and productivity across Hyundai’s manufacturing ecosystem.