BMW will use humanoids for the first time in Europe at German plant
2 March 2026 
The BMW Group is launching a pilot project to use humanoid robots at its Leipzig plant in Germany, with the aim of integrating humanoids into series production of its cars, and exploring their use in the production of batteries and components.
BMW is working with the Swiss-based humanoid developer, Hexagon Robotics, which launched its first humanoid robot, called Aeon, in June 2025. Unusually, the robot has wheels instead of feet, allowing it to move rapidly in any direction. A variety of hand and gripper elements, or scanning tools, can be attached flexibly to the robot’s arms.
Following an initial theoretical evaluation and successful laboratory tests on the Aeon robot, BMW began initial testing of the humanoid at its Leipzig plant in December 2025. It is now planning further tests from April 2026, before the full pilot trial starts in the summer of 2026.
“Our focus is on step‑by‑step integration into our production system to explore a wide range of applications,” explains Michael Ströbel, BMW’s head of process management and digitalisation, order to delivery. “The emphasis is on researching multifunctional use of the robot in various production areas such as battery manufacturing for energy modules, and component production for exterior parts.”
The European pilot follows BMW’s first deployment of humanoid robots – at its Spartanburg plant in the US last year. This trial was based on Figure AI’s Figure 02 robot which was used to move and position sheet metal parts for welding – a task that is particularly demanding in terms of speed and accuracy, as well as being physically exhausting. The results showed that the humanoid added measurable value under real-world conditions.
In ten months, the robot moved more than 90,000 components and completed around 1.2 million steps, working ten-hour shifts, five days a week. In total, it operated for around 1,250 hours and supported the production of more than 30,000 of BMW’s X3 model. BMW and Figure AI are now evaluating potential applications for Figure’s latest (03) robot.
The US trial confirmed that humanoid robots can safely perform precise, repetitive work steps – such as positioning components with millimetre precision. It also provided important insights for the further deployment of physical AI in BMW’s operations.
One key finding was that the transition from the laboratory to an actual production environment was faster than expected. Motion sequences trained in the laboratory could be transferred rapidly into stable shift operations. To ensure smooth coexistence with existing systems, the robot was integrated into BMW’s Smart Robotics ecosystem via standardised interfaces.
The body shop chosen for the Spartanburg trial has a high level of automation. Employees in the area have extensive experience of integrating new technologies and processes. For example, material supply is already carried out almost entirely by automated smart transport robots.
AI is already an integral part of the BMW production process, from virtual factories with digital twins and AI‑enabled quality controls, to intralogistics with autonomous transport systems.
BMW believes that a prerequisite for using AI effectively in production is to adopt a unified IT and data model across the entire production system. It has therefore transformed isolated data silos into a unified production data platform, with all of the data being consistent, standardised and available at all times. This allows digital AI agents to take on increasingly challenging tasks autonomously and in complex environments, while continuously learning and becoming available for new applications.
BMW says that the introduction of intelligent and autonomous decision‑making agents marks “a paradigm shift” in production.
“Our aim is to be a technology leader and to integrate new technologies into production at an early stage,” says Michael Nikolaides, BMW’s senior vice-president for production network and supply chain management. “Pilot projects help us to test and further develop the use of physical AI – that is, AI‑enabled robots capable of learning – under real-world industrial conditions.
“The successful first deployment of humanoid robots at our BMW Group plant in Spartanburg in the USA proves that a humanoid robot can function not only under controlled laboratory conditions but also in an existing automotive manufacturing environment,” he adds.
BMW sees humanoid robots as potentially adding value to its automation systems. They are particularly promising for monotonous, ergonomically demanding or safety‑critical tasks. The aim is to relieve employees and improve working conditions.
BMW has set up a Centre of Competence for Physical AI in Production, whose team leader, Felix Haeckel, explains: “We are pooling our expertise to make knowledge on AI and robotics widely usable within the company. In recent years, we have built up an international team of experts that, in addition to in‑house research and programming, is dedicated to the gradual integration of AI into the existing production system. At the same time, our team in Munich is driving its own robotics research to set up, support, and further develop pilot projects in the field of Physical AI at our plants.”
“Digitalisation improves the competitiveness of our production – here in Europe and worldwide,” concludes BMW board member with responsibility for production, Milan Nedeljković. “The symbiosis of engineering expertise and AI opens up entirely new possibilities in production.”
