BMW to deploy humanoid robots at German factory following American success

As the automotive sector increasingly embraces AI-driven robotics to cut labour costs and handle physically demanding work, BMW is introducing humanoid robots to the assembly line at its Leipzig plant — marking the first time the company has deployed such machines at a European facility.

A limited number of robots, supplied by Hexagon Robotics, will operate on assembly lines and in high-voltage battery production for electric vehicles — an area where workers currently must wear heavy protective gear, according to reporting by BMW Blog, a publication focused on the Bavarian carmaker.

BMW describes the initiative as “Physical AI” — intelligent systems capable of perceiving, reasoning and acting within complex, real-world manufacturing settings. The company sees this as a step beyond conventional automation, built on years of investment in a unified data infrastructure spanning its global production network. That digital backbone enables AI systems to take on progressively autonomous responsibilities and continuously improve their performance.

“Digitalisation improves the competitiveness of our production — here in Europe and worldwide,” said Milan Nedeljković, BMW’s production chief, who is set to become the company’s CEO in May. “The symbiosis of engineering expertise and artificial intelligence opens up entirely new possibilities in production.”

Hexagon’s humanoid robot, AEON — unveiled in June 2025 — features a human-like frame capable of supporting various hand, gripper and scanning attachments, and moves dynamically on wheels. The Leipzig pilot began in December 2025. A wider test phase is scheduled for April 2026, followed by a full-scale pilot in summer 2026. The robot will focus primarily on high-voltage battery assembly and component manufacturing — operations where precision, safety and ergonomics are paramount.

Robots meant to assist workers, not replace

BMW emphasizes that humanoid robots are intended to complement existing automation and support employees, rather than displace them. The company says the objective is to “relieve employees and further improve working conditions” — particularly in repetitive or physically strenuous roles.

Another rationale was highlighted by Michael Ströbel, BMW’s head of process management, who noted that humanoid robots could eventually allow the company to internalize tasks currently outsourced to suppliers. “This gives us opportunity to do more production in-house,” he said.

Although this marks the first deployment of humanoid robots at a European BMW site, the company initially tested the technology in 2025 at its U.S. plant in Spartanburg, South Carolina, in collaboration with California-based Figure AI.

Over a ten-month period, Figure AI’s Figure 02 robot completed daily ten-hour shifts from Monday to Friday, assisting in the production of more than 30,000 BMW X3 vehicles.

It was tasked with precisely removing and positioning sheet metal parts for welding — a repetitive and physically taxing job that BMW described as “particularly demanding in terms of speed and accuracy while also being physically exhausting.” By the end of the trial, the robot had handled more than 90,000 components, accumulated approximately 1,250 operating hours and logged around 1.2 million steps.

By Nazrin Sadigova