From sci-fi to reality: Humanoid robots could soon be as big as auto industry - Consulting.us
# From sci-fi to reality: Humanoid robots could soon be as big as auto industry 30 April 2026 Consulting.us 4 min. read Development of humanoid robots is picking up pace, and if current trajectories hold, robotics manufacturers could reach revenues of $300...
Key takeaways
The most recent headlines show that the humanoid‑robot market is moving from prototype showcases to large‑scale manufacturing and strategic acquisitions. 1X’s NEO platform, which began preorder in October 2025, has entered full‑scale production at a 58,000‑square‑foot factory in Hayward, California, and the company says it will be able to build up to 100,000 units a year by the end of 2027, aiming to bring a $20,000 home assistant robot capable of chores, scheduling and basic interaction to U.S. households. At the same time, Meta has announced the purchase of Assured Robot Intelligence, a startup that develops foundation models for whole‑body humanoid control, signaling the social‑media giant’s intent to integrate advanced AI‑driven robots into future consumer products. In the industrial arena, Schaeffler is partnering with Hexagon Robotics to roll out 1,000 AEON humanoids across multiple factories starting in late 2026, with a longer‑term goal of 1,000 units by 2032, while its collaboration with VinDynamics aims to extend actuator technology to additional robot makers. Apptronik, bolstered by a fresh $935 million Series A round, has appointed former Waymo executive Daniel Chu as chief product officer and is preparing to launch its Apollo humanoid for commercial use in logistics, elder‑care and other sectors. Market analysts at Roland Berger project that, if current development trajectories hold, worldwide revenues from humanoid robots could reach $300 billion by 2035, potentially climbing to $750 billion under optimistic scenarios. Finally, the startup Foundation has begun testing its general‑purpose humanoid robots in a supply‑transport demo in Ukraine and has secured a $24 million Pentagon contract, underscoring growing interest in military applications despite remaining challenges such as battery life and durability.
From sci-fi to reality: Humanoid robots could soon be as big as auto industry
30 April 2026 Consulting.us 4 min. read
Development of humanoid robots is picking up pace, and if current trajectories hold, robotics manufacturers could reach revenues of $300 billion by 2035, or in more optimistic scenarios, up to $750 billion. A new report from Roland Berger found that running costs could be as low as $2 per hour, making humanoid robotics huge for competitiveness, growth, and tackling labor shortages. A company called Figure is another major player, having recently demonstrated its hardware’s ability to perform autonomous tasks through a high-profile partnership with BMW. Meanwhile, Boston Dynamics remains a pioneer in the field with its new fully electric Atlas, which showcases the advanced mobility and fluid movement necessary for complex human-centric spaces.
Source: Desk research and public information
While China is in the lead in general when it comes to robotics startups, Europe and North America, on the other hand, have focused far more on AI and software, as is clear by the fact that companies like OpenAI, Google, and others have been leading the AI race in recent years. The robotics industry is now at a turning point where humanoid robots are going from a prototype phase to industrial-scale rollout. As the tech and engineering behind these robots continues to advance, the market is likely to be worth trillions of dollars in the long term, a market size equivalent to the automotive industry.
By 2035, the market for body actuators alone could reach up to $79 billion, while compute and connectivity and perception, systems, energy and charging systems, and other essential parts could contribute more than $35 billion.
Source: Roland Berger Humanoid Robots market model, market interviews, desk research
Mentioned in this article