Toyota to train humanoid robots in factories but says humans will not be replaced

Toyota has begun involving workers in training ELEY humanoid robots on assembly lines. The company says the push is not intended to directly replace human employees.

Starting in 2028, the group plans to invest $6.42 billion a year in factory upgrades. Of the 400,000 robots it aims to deploy, 150,000 would go to Toyota’s automotive plants and 250,000 to group facilities producing components and materials.

ELEY robots learn precise movements

The wheeled ELEY robots are being taught tasks that require precise hand movements. Workers perform those operations using “jigs” modeled on the robots’ fingers.

Toyota executive vice president Hiroki Nakajima told Nikkei Asia that the company wants “a world where robots coexist with humans, rather than replacing them.” Toyota has 18,000 veteran workers across 60 factories worldwide, including 11 US manufacturing plants.

Toyota has not disclosed robot totals

Toyota has not said how many robots it has deployed overall or how many of the planned 400,000 machines will be humanoid. Automakers have used industrial robots for decades, mainly robotic arms at workstations and mobile machines that move parts and materials.

The International Federation of Robotics said China deployed 2 million industrial robots in 2024, followed by Japan with 450,500, the United States with 34,200 and South Korea with 30,600.

Automakers expand robotics programs

Humanoid robots are a newer development. Manufacturers are betting they can eventually perform varied tasks in workplaces designed for people, although challenges remain in artificial intelligence, hardware, safety and cost compared with human labor.

Hyundai plans to begin deploying Atlas robots developed by Boston Dynamics from 2028 at Hyundai and Kia plants. It aims to use up to 25,000 of the robots worldwide over the following few years.

On September 21, Boston Dynamics announced a training center at Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America, an electric-vehicle facility in Georgia. The center will train Atlas for tasks including sequencing automotive parts and placing components in the correct order for assembly.