Humanoid robots have transitioned from laboratory experiments to working factory floors across the automotive and electronics industries. Companies including BMW Group, Mercedes-Benz, Tesla, Hyundai Motor Group, Jabil, Magna International, and Schaeffler have already deployed or are actively testing humanoid robots in manufacturing environments, moving the technology from concept to commercial reality.

Which Major Manufacturers Are Using Humanoid Robots Right Now?

BMW Group became one of the first major automotive manufacturers to place humanoid robots inside an active factory. The company partnered with Figure AI to test Figure robots at its Spartanburg manufacturing plant in South Carolina, where the robots handle repetitive jobs such as moving components between workstations and managing parts before assembly. After successful trials supporting the production of more than 30,000 BMW X3 vehicles, BMW expanded the partnership to include the latest Figure 03 humanoid robot.

Mercedes-Benz has taken a different approach by working with Apptronik on the Apollo humanoid robot. Rather than focusing on vehicle assembly, Apollo robots transport components and move materials across production areas inside manufacturing facilities. Mercedes-Benz invested in Apptronik to accelerate commercial development and now uses Apollo robots at its Berlin Digital Factory Campus, where engineers continue testing new manufacturing applications.

Tesla follows yet another strategy by designing and building its own humanoid robot called Optimus. The company develops both the robot hardware and the artificial intelligence system internally, using its factories as the first large-scale workplace for Optimus before the robot enters other industries. This approach gives Tesla direct control over testing, software improvements, and future deployment.

Hyundai Motor Group plans to introduce Boston Dynamics' Atlas humanoid robot into manufacturing over the next few years, with the first major deployment expected at Hyundai's Georgia Metaplant by 2028. Industry estimates place the cost of each Atlas robot at around $130,000, with an expected return on investment of roughly two years through improved productivity and lower operating costs.

What Real-World Tasks Are These Robots Performing?

Humanoid robots in manufacturing environments handle a consistent set of tasks that leverage their ability to walk, carry objects, and work inside spaces originally designed for human workers. Unlike traditional robotic arms that remain fixed in one location, these robots can move throughout factory floors and adapt to existing production layouts without requiring major facility redesigns.

• Material Transport: Robots move components between workstations and transport materials across production areas, reducing the time employees spend on repetitive logistics tasks.
• Component Handling: Robots pick up parts, manage inventory movement, and position materials before assembly, supporting production workflows without replacing human workers.
• Repetitive Production Support: Robots complete time-consuming, physically demanding tasks that normally consume valuable employee time, allowing workers to focus on more complex activities.

Electronics manufacturer Jabil works with Apptronik to evaluate Apollo humanoid robots inside production facilities, where frequent movement of materials between different production stations is essential. These real-world factory tests allow both companies to collect operational data before larger commercial deployment.

Industrial manufacturer Schaeffler has introduced Agility Robotics' Digit humanoid robot to support factory logistics. Agility Robotics reports more than 65,000 operational hours for Digit across manufacturing and logistics environments, demonstrating the robot's reliability in real-world conditions.

How to Evaluate Humanoid Robots for Your Manufacturing Operation

• Start with Pilot Programs: Begin with limited deployments in structured factory environments where tasks are repetitive and well-defined, allowing your team to collect performance data before wider rollout.
• Partner with Established Providers: Work with companies that have proven track records in your industry, such as Figure AI for automotive or Apptronik for logistics-heavy operations.
• Calculate Return on Investment: Evaluate the cost per robot against productivity gains and labor savings; industry estimates suggest payback periods of roughly two years in many manufacturing scenarios.
• Plan for Integration: Assess whether your existing factory layout can accommodate humanoid robots without major redesigns, since their human-like shape allows them to work in spaces built for human workers.

Magna International has partnered with Sanctuary AI to explore the use of the Phoenix humanoid robot in manufacturing, focusing on industrial production support across automotive operations. Magna's evaluation reflects a growing trend among global suppliers seeking practical automation solutions without major factory redesign.

What Does the Commercial Momentum Tell Us About the Future?

The rapid increase in humanoid robot utilization indicates that manufacturing has emerged as the largest market for this technology. Factory environments are highly structured, allowing robots to perform tasks more accurately and efficiently than in less predictable settings.

Agility Robotics has secured over $300 million in conditional multi-year orders for its next-generation Digit V5 robot, demonstrating strong commercial demand from industrial customers. To support future growth, the company opened a 60,000-square-foot research and training center in California to prepare robots for larger commercial deployments across manufacturing industries.

Apptronik recently opened a 90,000-square-foot Robot Park to prepare Apollo for large-scale manufacturing deployment. Meanwhile, XPeng, a Chinese car manufacturer, plans to produce over 1,000 humanoid robots per month by 2026, indicating that production capabilities are increasing significantly.

While humanoid robots have not yet reached full maturity, there are already numerous instances of effective factory applications. If artificial intelligence development continues to progress and production costs decrease, the role of humanoid robots in manufacturing will expand substantially in the coming years.