Hyundai Motor Group plans to deploy more than 25,000 Atlas humanoid robots across its vehicle manufacturing operations. The group unveiled this Atlas deployment at a JPMorgan Chase investor session in Boston on Monday. Hyundai Vice Chair Chang Jae-hoon and Boston Dynamics interim CEO Amanda McMaster attended. Hyundai will use the robots at its own plants before expanding external sales.
The Atlas deployment will take roughly 83 percent of the 30,000 robots Hyundai aims to produce yearly by 2028. Kia CEO Song Ho-sung revealed at a separate roadshow that Atlas will first arrive at the Hyundai Metaplant America in Georgia in 2028. Kia’s Georgia plant will follow in 2029.
Hyundai also plans a US production facility for actuators, the muscles of humanoid robots. Actuators account for roughly 60 percent of material costs. Hyundai Mobis will operate the facility with 350,000 units annual capacity starting in 2028. Each Atlas robot needs more than 10 actuators. Early mass-production costs sit at roughly 130,000to140,000 per unit. Costs will fall to around $30,000 after cumulative production exceeds 50,000 units. This Atlas deployment secures early demand to drive down costs quickly.
Market observers speculated about a Boston Dynamics IPO. However Kia CEO Song played down such speculation. He said the company has not decided on IPO timing or external fundraising. The group’s strategy combines vertical integration with large-scale robot deployment. This Atlas deployment represents a major step for humanoid robotics in automotive manufacturing. The US actuator plant will also strengthen local supply chains.
