New development! Humanoid robot enters BMW factory

On February 27, BMW Group announced the first introduction of physical AI into Europe, launching a humanoid robot pilot project at its Leipzig factory.

The project aims to integrate humanoid robot technology into the existing mass production lines of vehicles while exploring more application scenarios in battery and component manufacturing.

The robot supplier involved in this collaboration is Swedish company Hexagon, which BMW describes as a “long-term stable partner.”

Hexagon released its first humanoid robot, AEON, in June 2025. By December of the same year, AEON had completed its initial testing deployment at BMW’s Leipzig factory. According to plan, further testing of AEON will begin in April 2026 to ensure a smooth transition into the official pilot phase by summer 2026.

At the Leipzig plant, the project will focus on testing the robot’s multifunctional applications. The upcoming robot, based on AEON’s anthropomorphic design, features a body that can flexibly assemble various hands, grippers, or scanning tools, and can move via its base wheels. During testing and subsequent pilots, the robot will participate in high-voltage battery assembly and component manufacturing.

BMW states that humanoid robots are a powerful complement to existing automation systems, especially suitable for repetitive, monotonous, high-load, or safety-critical tasks, with the potential to reduce employee workload and further improve working conditions.

This is not BMW’s first “trial run.” In 2025, BMW partnered with Figure AI to deploy humanoid robots at its Spartanburg plant in the United States.

Operational data shows that humanoid robots have created significant value in real production environments. Over ten months, the Figure 02 robot worked five days a week, ten hours a day, assisting in the production of over 30,000 BMW X3s. Its main task was to precisely pick and place metal sheets for welding—an operation demanding high speed, accuracy, and labor intensity.

Ultimately, the Figure 02 handled over 90,000 parts, executing approximately 1.2 million steps within about 1,250 operational hours.

BMW states that this pilot confirmed humanoid robots can safely perform precise, repetitive tasks—such as positioning components with millimeter accuracy—providing important support for further deployment of physical AI in manufacturing.

Michael Nikolaides, Senior Vice President of Production Network and Supply Chain Management at BMW Group, said, “Our successful pilot at the Spartanburg plant proves that humanoid robots can not only operate in controlled laboratory environments but also integrate into actual car manufacturing settings, performing reliably.”

Chinese automakers are also accelerating into the “fast lane” of humanoid robot development. In November 2025, Changan Automobile announced its participation in establishing Changan Tianshu Intelligent Robot Technology Co., Ltd. The company aims to serve as a strategic platform for the company’s robotics industry, driven by intelligent humanoid robot technology and developing multiple robot industry segments.

In addition to Changan, automakers like XPeng Motors and Li Auto have recently announced new developments in their robot businesses. On February 25, at the Guangzhou High-Quality Development Conference, XPeng’s first full-chain mass production base for humanoid robots was officially presented as a key “opening success” project in Tianhe District.

Automakers are destined to be core players in the humanoid robot race. In terms of hardware, their supply chains are highly overlapping, enabling quick entry; in software, their autonomous driving technology provides a foundation for developing the “brain” of robots. Moreover, automotive factory production lines are highly standardized, making them ideal scenarios for humanoid robot applications, providing a closed loop from technology to implementation.

(Source: Shanghai Securities News)