Lead

Hyundai Motor Group has unveiled a plan to mass-produce and deploy humanoid robots developed by its U.S. subsidiary Boston Dynamics, aiming to establish a production system capable of manufacturing 30,000 Atlas units annually by 2028. The group intends to deploy more than 25,000 of the robots across Hyundai Motor and Kia manufacturing facilities, according to investor relations materials presented during a session hosted by JPMorgan Chase.

The plan signals Hyundai's broader transformation from a traditional automaker into a future mobility and artificial intelligence solutions provider, with the company positioning robotics at the center of its long-term growth strategy.

Coverage Comparison

Yonhap News Agency reported the plan across multiple articles, each highlighting different facets of the announcement. One report, citing investor relations materials released May 19, detailed the production capacity target and the planned deployment of over 25,000 Atlas robots, though it noted the group did not provide a detailed rollout schedule or identify specific plants. Another report placed the announcement in the context of Hyundai's software-defined factory (SDF) strategy, which uses AI to control production, quality, and logistics operations through software. A third report focused on the remarks of Kia Corp. CEO Song Ho-sung, who outlined the deployment timeline for Kia's U.S. factories.

A separate Yonhap article, filed by Kim Eun-jung, characterized the move as part of Hyundai's acceleration toward becoming a "future mobility and AI solutions provider," linking the robotics push to the broader industry trend of integrating AI foundation models into industrial robotics.

Key Claims

Hyundai Motor Group plans to establish facilities capable of producing 30,000 humanoid robots annually by 2028 and deploy 25,000 robots across Hyundai Motor Co. and Kia Corp. manufacturing plants, as reported by Yonhap. The group also aims to produce more than 300,000 actuator units annually at U.S. facilities. Actuators are key robot components that function as joints and muscles.

According to Yonhap, the Atlas robot, developed by Boston Dynamics and unveiled at CES 2026, will initially handle parts sequencing operations at Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America in Georgia beginning in 2028. Its role is expected to expand to parts assembly work starting in 2030. The company also plans to gradually expand robot deployment to new factories in India and South Korea.

Kia Corp. CEO Song Ho-sung said during recent overseas roadshows that Kia plans to deploy the humanoid robot at its Georgia plant in 2029, following the initial rollout at the parent company's Metaplant America. Song said the company plans to gradually expand deployment at U.S. factories over the first one to two years to accumulate operational data and enhance safety, with the robots initially assigned to physically demanding processes. Once capabilities are verified, deployment could be expanded to overseas factories with similar production layouts.

Hyundai Motor Group has also created units dedicated to advancing its software-defined factory strategy and procuring robot components, according to industry sources cited by Yonhap. The group recently created a position overseeing the SDF initiative and appointed Alpesh Patel, chief innovation officer at Hyundai Motor Group Innovation Center Singapore, to the role. Additionally, a new office dedicated to robotics component procurement was established, headed by Soh Hyun-seong, former head of strategic planning at Beijing Hyundai.

Kia Corp. is already using four-legged robot Spot for product scanning, security, and patrol operations, while logistics robot Stretch will be integrated into purpose-built vehicles, Song said.

Hyundai Motor Company's shares have risen more than 270 percent since the beginning of the year, driven by investor sentiment toward its robotics strategy, according to Yonhap. The rally accelerated after CES 2026 in Las Vegas, where the company unveiled its group-wide AI robotics strategy and showcased the latest version of the Atlas robot. Boston Dynamics also released a video showing Atlas lifting and moving an entire refrigerator, demonstrating its ability to coordinate full-body movements while handling heavy objects.