BMW says humanoid robots are the future of car production - BBC
"When we automised the production of cars in the '70s, everybody said this will lead to a lot of job losses, but the opposite was the case," he says.
Key takeaways
The most recent developments in humanoid robotics show a rapid move from laboratory prototypes toward scalable production and commercial deployment. In late May 2026 Figure announced that its BotQ factory has accelerated output of the Figure 03 model from one unit per day to one per hour, pushing cumulative production past 350 units and achieving first‑pass yields above 80 percent while integrating a new “System 0” whole‑body controller that fuses visual and proprioceptive data for autonomous stair climbing and uneven‑terrain navigation. At the same time, EngineAI unveiled its Shenzhen Intelligent Manufacturing Base and began mass delivery of the T800 full‑size humanoid, targeting a 10,000‑unit delivery capability and positioning the robot for high‑dynamic, heavy‑duty tasks. The Humanoids Summit in Tokyo highlighted both Japanese and Chinese progress: Japanese firms demonstrated dexterous hands that can thread needles and childlike dancing bots, while Chinese newcomers such as Booster Robotics and LimX Dynamics showcased refined, lower‑cost versions of similar technology, underscoring a shift in market leadership. Automotive leaders are also positioning humanoids for factory use; BMW’s chief executive cited humanoid robots as the next wave of car‑production automation, noting trials with Toyota’s Digit and Hyundai’s plans to employ Boston Dynamics’ Atlas alongside Spot inspection units. Collectively, these announcements indicate that humanoid robots are transitioning from experimental platforms to fleet‑managed, mass‑produced systems ready for industrial, logistics, and consumer applications.
"When we automised the production of cars in the '70s, everybody said this will lead to a lot of job losses, but the opposite was the case," he says. "There were new jobs created by this new technology, and that's the way we look at [humanoid robots]."
Other carmakers are also taking a keen interest in modern robotics.
Toyota for example, plans to use Digit humanoid robots from Agility Robotics following a successful trial. China's Xiaomi has tested two of its own humanoid robots in electric vehicle production.
Hyundai is using Spot robots for industrial inspection and has announced plans to use Atlas humanoid robots, both made by Boston Dynamics in which Hyundai is a majority shareholder. BMW has also used a Boston Dynamics Spot robot, which is shaped like a dog, as a maintenance watchdog.
"He had to be able to walk stairs," says Nikolaides. "He was able to go down to the basement where a lot of machinery was."
The robots have been welcomed by staff, Nikolaides says. He imagines people will give them names, as they have done for older non-humanoid robots.
"If it doesn't have a name, it's a machine," says Gartner's Ray. "If it gets it wrong, it's broken. If it has a name, then people expect it to make mistakes. People forgive it. One of the things we say to companies is to give your robots names."
Aeon doesn't have a human face but does have a display area on the front of its head, which shows symbols, such as a line when performing a task and a circle when listening. "We're still working on that [visual language], but we feel very strongly that Aeon needs to be signalling in a way that's natural to humans," says Robert.
Humanoid robots are starting to enter workplaces alongside humans, but Ray believes the robots have been overhyped, especially with high profile demonstrations.
"The primary use case for a humanoid robot today is to walk on stage and artificially inflate your share price," he says. "Robots dancing or whatever: That's not that difficult to do."
There's a risk of people overestimating a robot's capabilities, he says.
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