Hyundai Accelerates AI Robot Transformation, Plans Mass Production

By Kim Eun-jung

SEOUL, May 20 (Yonhap) -- Hyundai Motor Company is accelerating its transformation from a traditional automaker into a future mobility and artificial intelligence (AI) solutions provider, unveiling plans to mass-produce and deploy humanoid robots developed by its U.S. affiliate Boston Dynamics as part of its long-term growth strategy.

Hyundai's robotics ambitions are central to its broader push to position itself as a frontrunner in technology-driven mobility and so-called "physical AI," which combines AI with robots capable of interacting with the physical world.

The shift comes as global tech companies increasingly move beyond software-based large language models toward integrating AI foundation models into industrial robotics to improve efficiency and reduce costs.

Investor sentiment toward Hyundai's robotics strategy has strengthened sharply this year, pushing up its shares more than 270 percent since the beginning of the year.

The rally accelerated after CES 2026 in Las Vegas in January, where the world's third-largest automaker by vehicle sales unveiled its group-wide AI robotics strategy and showcased the latest version of the Atlas humanoid robot.

On Tuesday, Boston Dynamics released a video showing Atlas lifting and moving an entire refrigerator. The demonstration highlighted the robot's ability to coordinate full-body movements while handling heavy external objects, raising hope for its commercialization in the near future.

During this week's U.S. investor relations session, Hyundai outlined plans to establish a production system capable of manufacturing 30,000 Atlas humanoid robots annually by 2028, aiming to deploy more than 25,000 robots across Hyundai Motor and Kia manufacturing facilities.

The robotics push also includes plans to produce more than 350,000 actuator units annually at U.S. facilities. Actuators are critical robot components that function similarly to joints and muscles in humanoid systems.

During recent overseas roadshows, Kia CEO Song Ho-sung said the company plans to begin deploying Atlas robots at Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America in Georgia in 2028, followed by Kia's plant in the U.S. state in 2029.

Song said the group plans to gradually expand deployment across U.S. factories over one to two years to accumulate operational data and improve safety, with the robots initially assigned to physically demanding tasks.

Under the goal, Hyundai plans to begin operating the Robot Metaplant Application Center (RMAC) at Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America starting this summer, which will serve as a key hub for training robots based on a reasoning AI system jointly developed with Google DeepMind.

Promising areas for industrial robot deployment include parts sequencing, logistics, material handling and repetitive manufacturing tasks.

While there remains caution over safety and regulatory challenges for large-scale commercialization at an early stage, Hyundai said its AI-robot strategy is not focused on replacing humans but "partnering human progress."

Last week, the group unveiled its gardening, delivery and security robots deployed at its renovated headquarters in Seoul to make it a testbed for the robot applications before commercialization.

Hyundai Motor Group Executive Chair Euisun Chung emphasized that the company is seeking to balance software and hardware capabilities, while ensuring robots can coexist with employees in workplace environments.

"We are moving forward with our robotics business through trial and error," Chung said in a meeting with reporters at company headquarters. "As it is important to maintain the right balance between software and hardware, and to integrate robotics with employees' emotions and culture, we are paying close attention to those aspects."