Hyundai Thinks the Next Mobility Revolution Isn’t a Car

Hyundai used Boston Dynamics’ humanoid robot, called Atlas, to illustrate the point. Shown at CES in production form and positioned at the center of Hyundai Motor Group’s robotics push, the automaker says Atlas is designed specifically for industrial environments, with human-scale proportions, tactile-sensing hands, and 56 degrees of freedom that allow it to move and work in spaces traditionally reserved for people. Hyundai plans to begin using Atlas at its Metaplant America facility in Savannah, Georgia, starting in 2028, at first tasked with handling parts sequencing before expanding into assembly and other repetitive or physically demanding tasks by 2030.

Hyundai Group Hyundai will support that effort with data-driven factories, it says, including its new Robot Metaplant Application Center, where robots are trained using real-world production data. Hyundai is also strengthening its relationship with NVIDIA for AI infrastructure and simulation, while Boston Dynamics has entered a separate collaboration with Google DeepMind to accelerate humanoid robot intelligence. Skip to Content

Hyundai Thinks the Next Mobility Revolution Isn’t a Car

AI-powered robots take center stage in the Group’s long-term vision.

By Natalie Neff

Hyundai Group

Hyundai Motor Group says it believes the next frontier lies not in electrification or autonomy, but in… robots. The automaker does try to take the edge off by clarifying that these robots will supposedly be working alongside people. Still, the sting is there for those prepping for the coming of our new overlords.

The pronouncement came under the banner “Partnering Human Progress,” with Hyundai saying its strategy is aimed at the era of “Physical AI,” where artificial intelligence is embodied in machines operating in the real world.