Humanoid robots are increasingly appearing on automotive production lines, with Renault, BMW, Hyundai, and Tesla all investing heavily in the technology. The move aims to automate strenuous and repetitive tasks, potentially reshaping the future of automotive manufacturing.
At Renault’s Douai plant in northern France, a humanoid robot named Calvin is already at work, delivering tires to the production line. According to Les Echos, this marks the first instance of a humanoid “employee” within the automaker’s operations, operating without the need for breaks or shift negotiations. Renault plans to deploy 350 of these units across its French and Spanish facilities within the next 18 months.
Humanoid Robots Integrated into Production Lines at Renault and BMW
Renault’s implementation of Calvin, unveiled as part of the company’s strategic plan, is focused on tasks involving high physical demands and irregular hours. While the robot’s speed currently lags behind human operators, its ability to consistently perform the same actions without fatigue is a key advantage.
BMW is also piloting humanoid robots at its Leipzig, Germany plant, following a successful test at a U.S. Facility. Mercedes-Benz is testing the Apollo robot, supplied by Apptronik, at its Kecskemet, Hungary plant. The emerging landscape sees Renault holding a stake in French firm Wandercraft, while Chinese automaker BYD has invested in AgiBot, and BMW has partnered with Swiss company Hexagon. Each company is exploring the optimal integration strategy for these machines.
Hyundai and Tesla Make Significant Investments in Humanoid Robotics
Hyundai is currently the most prominent player in the field, having acquired Boston Dynamics in 2021. The company intends to deploy 30,000 Atlas robots in its factories by 2030, with the first deployment scheduled for 2028. Morgan Stanley noted that Hyundai’s stock has risen 70% in the past year, fueled by enthusiasm surrounding humanoid robots. Hyundai is also developing a collaborative ecosystem around its MobED robotics platform to adapt this form of IA physique to various industrial needs. This has sparked initial concerns about potential job displacement, although the company emphasizes the replacement of particularly arduous tasks.
For Tesla, physical AI has turn into a core strategic focus alongside its robotaxi projects. Facing increasing competition from Chinese automaker BYD, which recently surpassed Tesla in vehicle sales, Tesla is repurposing its Fremont, California site to produce its own humanoid robot, Optimus. Elon Musk has projected an annual production capacity of one million units, though the timeline remains uncertain. Analysts at Bank of America recently valued the Optimus business at 32 billion euros. Barclays estimates the current humanoid market at 2 to 3 billion USD (approximately 1.8 to 2.7 billion euros), with a potential range of 30 to 200 billion USD (roughly 27 to 180 billion euros) by 2035. UBS forecasts 2 million humanoid robots in circulation by 2035, increasing to 300 million by 2050, representing a market opportunity of 1.4 to 1.7 trillion USD (approximately 1.26 to 1.53 trillion euros), including personal use.
However, some industry players remain cautious. A Volkswagen spokesperson indicated that while humanoid robots are being evaluated, the company generally considers robotics technology as a whole, regardless of form factor. Stellantis’s head of innovation, Anne Laliron, stated, “You will learn more soon,” and reiterated that “robotics and automation in general remain absolutely essential within the company,” details of which will be revealed during the presentation of the strategic plan on May 21.
