Hyundai Motor Group unveiled its expanded AI Robotics strategy at CES 2026, outlining a long-term vision to build a human-centered robotics ecosystem powered by advanced artificial intelligence. The group emphasized its goal of enabling closer collaboration between humans and robots, moving AI robotics beyond experimental laboratories and into real-world industrial and everyday environments.
Hyundai Motor Group hosted a media day on January 5 (local time) at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas under the theme “AI Robotics: Beyond the Lab, Into Life – Partnering Human Progress.” At the event, the group declared a strategic shift from hardware- and mobility-focused robotics to AI-driven, human-centered robotics that actively supports and collaborates with people.
The strategy represents an evolution from Hyundai Motor Group’s CES 2022 theme, “Expanding Human Reach,” by advancing toward a deeper integration of robotics into daily life and work. The group stated that its new vision focuses on how technology can enable humanity to achieve greater safety, efficiency, and quality of life through meaningful human–robot cooperation.
To realize this vision, Hyundai Motor Group presented three core strategic pillars. The first is fostering collaboration between humans and robots starting in manufacturing environments, where real-world data and repetitive, high-risk tasks can serve as a foundation for training intelligent robots. The second pillar is building an AI robotics ecosystem by integrating the diverse capabilities of group affiliates across manufacturing, logistics, software, and components. The third is expanding partnerships with leading global AI companies to accelerate technological development and commercialization.
Based on these strategies, Hyundai Motor Group aims to position itself as a leading company in physical AI, a concept that refers to AI systems capable of collecting data through hardware in real environments, making autonomous decisions, and executing actions in areas such as robotics, smart factories, and autonomous driving. The group highlighted its unique advantage in securing large-scale, real-world data across its entire value chain—from production and logistics to sales—and feeding this data back into AI training to create a continuous improvement cycle.
A major highlight of the presentation was the introduction of next-generation electric Atlas humanoid robots developed in collaboration with Boston Dynamics. Hyundai Motor Group and Boston Dynamics unveiled both a research prototype and a development model of the next-generation electric Atlas for the first time, showcasing their advanced mobility, autonomy, and adaptability. The group plans to systematically train Atlas robots within its manufacturing sites to accelerate practical human–robot collaboration in industrial settings.
Hyundai Motor Group noted that it has already demonstrated tangible results by deploying Boston Dynamics robots such as Spot and Stretch in factories and logistics centers, improving workplace safety and operational efficiency. Atlas is expected to further expand these capabilities by handling more complex, high-precision, and physically demanding tasks alongside human workers.
Looking ahead, Hyundai Motor Group plans to gradually introduce Atlas robots into key production facilities, including the Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America, beginning with tasks where safety and quality benefits are clearly validated. Over time, the scope of robot deployment will expand to include more complex assembly operations, with the ultimate goal of large-scale commercialization of industrial humanoid robots.
In addition, the group announced plans to establish a Physical AI Application Center in Korea to support the development, training, and validation of AI robotics technologies. It also aims to build robot manufacturing and foundry facilities based on customer-tailored robotic solutions, further strengthening its end-to-end AI robotics value chain.
Hyundai Motor Group emphasized that its approach prioritizes human value over technology itself. A company official stated that the group believes the key question is not what technology can do, but what humanity can achieve through technology. By promoting harmonious collaboration between humans and robots, Hyundai Motor Group aims to realize its corporate vision of “Progress for Humanity” while laying a solid foundation for the large-scale commercialization of AI robotics across industries and daily life.
