Hyundai Is Getting Tired of Waiting for Its Robots - Industrial Equipment News
April 15, 2026 Automation ##### Today and Tomorrow’s Manufacturing IT Balancing investments in legacy systems against the gains delivered by modern solutions.
Key takeaways
Humanoid‑robot news this month shows the field moving from prototype to mass‑production and large‑scale investment. Palo Alto‑based 1x is ramping up its NEO line, a $20,000 consumer robot that can learn chores, and has already booked its full 10,000‑unit annual capacity for 2026; the company says it will scale to 100,000 units per year by the end of 2027. Meta has bolstered its humanoid‑AI program by acquiring Assured Robot Intelligence (ARI), a startup that builds foundation models for whole‑body robot control and self‑learning, adding the team to its Superintelligence Labs division. A Roland Berger analysis released on 30 April projects humanoid‑robot revenues could reach $300 billion by 2035 and up to $750 billion in an optimistic scenario, with operating costs falling to about $2 per hour. Hyundai remains frustrated by Boston Dynamics’ limited Atlas output—about four units a month—but expects a new manufacturing plant to lift production soon. In China, DroidUp’s “Moya” biomimetic robot demonstrates fluid facial expressions, eye contact and soft‑actuated movement aimed at healthcare and education settings. Finally, Schaeffler has formalised a partnership with Hexagon Robotics, pledging to deploy 1,000 AEON humanoids across its factories by 2032, while also supplying actuators to VinDynamics for future robot builds.
April 15, 2026
Automation
Today and Tomorrow’s Manufacturing IT
Balancing investments in legacy systems against the gains delivered by modern solutions.
April 15, 2026
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But according to a new report from Semafor, the robot maker is still only making about four of its Atlas humanoid robots per month. At that rate, it would take more than 200 years to hit the 10,000 robot goal.
A boost to production volume appears to be on the horizon though, as Boston Dynamics is reportedly planning to open a new manufacturing facility in the coming months. A spokesperson for the company told the publication that the upcoming factory will give it the ability to mass manufacture Atlas robots, which are in the process of switching from the prototype to the production version.
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