Hyundai plans to build 30,000 electric humanoids per year by 2028
8 January 2026 
The American robot developer Boston Dynamics has started volume manufacturing of its Atlas electric humanoid robot and unveiled a new production version at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) In the US. All of the robots that it produces this year will go to Boston Dynamics’ majority shareholder, the Korean car-maker Hyundai, and to Google Deepmind, with which the robot-maker has formed an AI partnership (also announced at CES). BD plans to start selling its humanoids to other customers in 2027 with the aim of producing 30,000 machines per year by 2028.
The Atlas robot was first announced in 2024 and marked a shift away from the hydraulically-powered humanoids that BD had built previously. The new robot has 56 degrees of freedom and most of its joints can rotate through 360 degrees, allowing it to perform manoeuvres – such as rotating its head and body to point in the opposite direction – that no human could do, saving time in practical applications.
The ability to rotate freely in this way has been achieved by eliminating the wiring that usually restricts the movements of such joints. Instead of having to take several steps to change its direction of movement, the new robot can simply swivel its torso and head to move in a new direction.
The 1.9m-tall robot can lift up to 50kg and has a 2.3m reach. It is IP67-protected, allowing it to be washed down, and it can operate in temperatures from –20°C to +40°C. To ensure safety, it has 360-degree camera coverage and can detect the presence of humans. Its “hands” incorporate tactile sensors.
The robot is powered by a pair of swappable batteries that the robot can replace automatically when they are running low, potentially allowing almost continuous 24/7 operation. It can operate autonomously, via remote telecontrol, or by using a tablet steering interface.
Atlas is designed to perform a wide array of industrial tasks, from material-handling, assembly and machine-tending, to order fulfilment. It learns new tasks quickly – typically in less than a day. It adapts to dynamic environments, lifts heavy loads, and works autonomously with minimal supervision. Once an Atlas robot has learned a new task, it can be replicated immediately across an entire fleet of robots.
“This is the best robot we have ever built,” says Boston Dynamics CEO, Robert Playter. “Atlas is going to revolutionise the way industry works, and it marks the first step toward a long-term goal we have dreamed about since we were children – useful robots that can walk into our homes and help make our lives safer, more productive, and more fulfilling.”
“Atlas is the most production-friendly robot we’ve ever designed,” adds Atlas general manager, Zack Jackowski. “This generation of Atlas significantly reduces the amount of unique parts in the robot, and every component has been designed for compatibility with automotive supply chains. With Hyundai Motor Group’s backing, we will achieve the best reliability and economies of scale in the industry.”
Under its new partnership with Google DeepMind, BD plans to integrate cutting-edge AI foundation models into Atlas, giving the robot enhanced cognitive capabilities. Hyundai’s Mobis business will supply the actuators for Atlas, and BD will work with Hyundai to accelerate the pace of actuator development and production.
The new production line in Boston is designed to create up to 1,000 Atlas robots a year, and there plans to expand production to 30,000 machines per year by 2028, possibly in a new plant located near Hyundai’s EV plant in Georgia.
The first practical applications for the new robot will be for parts sequencing at Hyundai and Kia factories, with final assembly tasks being added by 2030.
Later this year, Hyundai plans to open a Robot Metaplant Application Centre (RMAC) in the US designed to act as the “engine” of its AI Robotics business, where robots will learn human collaboration by mapping movements such as lifts, turns, and recoveries into precision training for repetitive and complex tasks.
By 2028, RMAC-trained Atlas robots will be deployed for repetitive sequencing tasks, progressing to complex assembly work by 2030. This iterative training process will allow the robots to be deployed in applications ranging from logistics and construction, to energy and facilities management. Over time, Atlas will take on tasks involving repetitive motions, heavy loads, and other complex capabilities – ensuring safer working environments for factory employees. As the robot’s performance is validated, the car-maker aims to adopt it across entire production sites.
Hyundai plans to offer its robots on a RaaS (robotics as a service) model that migrates sales from one-off transactions to a flexible subscription service that reduces upfront costs, enhances cash flow, and provides customers with immediate ROI. Hyundai will handle maintenance, software updates, hardware scaling, and remote monitoring.
Hyundai has already deployed the RaaS model with customers including DHL, Nestlé and Maersk. The strategy positions Hyundai not only as an AI robotics manufacturer, but also as a long-term service and operations partner.
Hyundai recently announced a $86.4bn, five-year investment plan in Korea, primarily focused on advancing robotics powered using AI technologies, with the aim of securing future growth while fostering an innovative robotics ecosystem. The investment will also accelerate the development of a green energy ecosystem.
The group also plans to invest $26bn in the US in four years, starting in 2025. This investment will expand Hyundai’s collaboration with US companies in areas such as robotics, AI, autonomous driving, and other future technologies.
