At CES 2026, Hyundai unveiled ambitious plans to integrate advanced humanoid robots into its automotive production lines, a move that raises significant questions about the future of automotive jobs and vehicle pricing.
Robots in the Factory: Hyundai’s Vision for the Future of Manufacturing
Hyundai, which acquired robotics leader Boston Dynamics in 2021, showcased its vision for utilizing humanlike robots beyond mere inspection tasks. The company aims to deploy these advanced machines to build cars, citing goals of enhanced safety, improved quality, greater durability, and ultimately, reduced production costs.
However, the widespread automation of car manufacturing raises concerns about potential job displacement for human workers. Hyundai officials acknowledged these concerns during CES, with Vice Chairman of Hyundai Motor Group, Jaehoon Chang, stating, “We understand the concerns about job security when you deploy the robotic solutions. But as we have demonstrated for our aspirations of human-centered [robotics], we must do the right thing for people in terms of collaboration. And that means we probably need more jobs.”
Chang elaborated that new roles would emerge for individuals to “guide, supervise and maintain” these robots, alongside the creation of positions to “build the ecosystem” around this new technology.
Scalable Robot Production and Factory Integration
Hyundai announced a significant manufacturing goal: to establish a scalable production system capable of manufacturing 30,000 robots annually, beginning in 2028. In the same year, the company intends to have Boston Dynamics’ Atlas humanoid robot operational at its Georgia Metaplant, where models like the Ioniq 5 and Ioniq 9 are currently produced.
The initial phase will involve robots performing smaller tasks, with plans to evolve by 2030 for Atlas robots to assemble components. This will involve taking on tasks that are considered tedious, repetitive, and potentially dangerous for human workers.
While a teleoperated Atlas robot demonstrated advanced capabilities at CES, Hyundai highlighted a stationary prototype robot as the model intended for factory deployment within two years. This development is expected to cause apprehension among Hyundai’s global workforce of 250,000 employees.
The automaker insists that increased automation will lead to “safer working environments for factory employees,” enabling humans to collaborate with robots and transition to more complex, higher-paying roles. Heung-Soo Kim, an executive vice president overseeing global strategy, noted that the integration of robot labor is aligned with the company’s next-generation factory strategy, rather than immediate labor reduction plans.
Impact on Car Prices: What Consumers Can Expect
If Hyundai successfully automates its factories with humanoid robots, the company anticipates benefits for consumers in the form of improved quality and consistency due to the reduction of human error in manufacturing processes. However, Hyundai customers should not anticipate significant reductions in new car prices as a direct result of this automation.
Juncheul Jung, Hyundai’s head of manufacturing, explained that labor costs currently account for approximately 5% to 10% of vehicle manufacturing expenses. “Of course, there will be an impact on our customers because of the automation, but the degree of the impact will not be so large,” Jung stated.
Industry-Wide Push Towards Robotics
Hyundai’s move into advanced robotics for car manufacturing is part of a broader trend within the automotive industry. Competitors like Tesla are developing their Optimus robot for factory deployment, and several Chinese automakers, including Xpeng, are also increasing their efforts in this area.
Boston Dynamics CEO Robert Playter emphasized the company’s focus on “commercial maturity” and a clear path to monetization. He noted the rapid proliferation of robot companies but stressed Boston Dynamics’ unique approach. “They’re all still doing, for the most part, demos,” Playter said. “That’s not our approach.”
Beyond automotive manufacturing, Boston Dynamics, under Hyundai’s ownership, aims to offer Atlas robots through a “robotics-as-a-service” subscription model, exploring applications in sectors such as elder care. Playter cited Hyundai’s manufacturing scale and capital as key advantages that differentiate Boston Dynamics from other robotics firms.