Hyundai Motor Group has unveiled its humanoid robot “Atlas,” which is expected to secure leadership in the physical AI market. Starting from performing simple, repetitive tasks in a human-like form, Atlas is projected to be deployed from the year after next in parts assembly processes requiring high precision, driving a paradigm shift in manufacturing sites.

On the 5th (local time), Hyundai Motor Group held a CES 2026 media event at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas, Nevada, United States, and announced its AI robotics expansion strategy under the theme “AI Robotics, From Lab to Life: Partnering Human Progress.”

The clear centerpiece of the event was the next-generation “Atlas.” Designed with a structure similar to that of a human, Atlas drew focused attention on site by sequentially demonstrating flexible and sophisticated movements such as standing up on its own from a lying position on the floor, freely bending its wrist joints, and even rotating its head 360 degrees.

The next-generation electric Atlas is divided into a research model for testing core functions and a development model intended for direct deployment in manufacturing sites. The development model, which has hands similar in size to those of a human, is equipped with tactile sensors and recognizes all directions through a 360-degree camera. It can lift weights of up to 50 kg. Its durability, enabling full performance in environments ranging from minus 20 degrees Celsius to 40 degrees Celsius, is also cited as an advantage. It is additionally equipped with a function that allows it to autonomously move to a charging station, replace its battery, and resume work.

Hyundai Motor Group plans to deploy Atlas in sequencing operations for parts classification at Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America (HMGMA) in Georgia, United States, from 2028, and to expand its scope of work to parts assembly from 2030. Through this, robots will be tasked with hazardous and highly fatiguing operations, while humans will manage and train the robots and focus on higher value-added work, establishing a collaborative structure.

Hyundai Motor Group is also accelerating the creation of an integrated ecosystem that consolidates group-wide capabilities to commercialize AI robotics. Hyundai Motor and Kia will provide manufacturing infrastructure, process control, and production data, while Hyundai Mobis will develop and supply key actuators. Hyundai Glovis will handle logistics and supply chain optimization to maximize the benefits of robot deployment. Through this, the group aims to build an end-to-end value chain covering development, learning, verification, mass production, and service.

In particular, HMGMA will be operated as a Software-Defined Factory (SDF) and will serve as a core hub for robot learning and performance enhancement. Before deployment, robots will undergo mapping-based training at the “Robot Metaplant Application Center (RMAC)” and then be put into actual production processes, forming a cyclical structure in which the data accumulated during this process is reused for further training. Hyundai Motor Group plans to open RMAC in the United States this year.

Cooperation with leading global AI companies will also be strengthened. Through a partnership with NVIDIA, Hyundai Motor Group is enhancing its capabilities in robot learning, simulation, and AI infrastructure. Boston Dynamics is working with Google DeepMind to develop next-generation humanoids by integrating a robot AI foundation model.

Hyundai Motor Group plans to introduce a subscription-based RaaS (Robots as a Service) model for robots, reducing customers’ initial adoption burden and expanding the application of robotics to various industries such as logistics, construction, facility management, and energy.

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