Hyundai Plans to Deploy 25,000 Boston Dynamics Atlas Robots and Build US Plant

Hyundai Motor Group announced plans to deploy 25,000 Boston Dynamics Atlas humanoid robots across its global Hyundai and Kia facilities while building a U.S. factory with an annual capacity of 30,000 units. The automaker has launched the Robot Metaplant Application Center (RMAC) in Georgia to train Atlas using human teleoperation ahead of its scheduled 2028 operational rollout. This initiative represents one of the largest commercial commitments to industrial humanoid robotics, signaling a dramatic acceleration of physical AI in automotive manufacturing. It also highlights the growing workforce and economic implications as automakers balance automated efficiency with union demands and job displacement concerns. The production version of Atlas features 56 degrees of freedom, a 2.3-meter arm reach, a maximum lift of 50 kg (30 kg continuous payload), a 4-hour battery life with self-charging, and operates in temperatures from -20°C to 40°C. Initial deployment in 2028 will focus on parts sorting before expanding to assembly work by 2030, with future applications targeting aerospace, semiconductor, and logistics sectors.