China’s push into humanoid robots is accelerating, with domestic firms shipping more units and iterating faster than U.S. competitors in a still-nascent market.

BMW is starting to put humanoid robots to work in Europe — a first for the company — as it looks for new ways to improve efficiency and stay competitive in a tough global market.

The German automaker has launched a pilot program at its Leipzig plant in Germany, where AI-powered humanoid robots will assist with selected assembly tasks. While this is the first European rollout, it’s not BMW’s first experiment overall. The company previously ran a 10-month trial at its Spartanburg, South Carolina plant in the US, where Figure AI’s Figure 02 humanoid robots worked five days a week, up to 10 hours a day.

Complementing existing automation systems rather than replacing them

During that US pilot, the robots reportedly handled physically demanding tasks such as placing sheet metal components for welding. According to BMW, they contributed to the production of more than 30,000 vehicles while also reducing strain on human workers. The goal wasn’t to replace staff, but to take over repetitive or ergonomically challenging jobs.

Now, the focus shifts to Leipzig. At the German facility, BMW is testing the AEON humanoid robot developed by Hexagon Robotics. The machines will assist in assembly line operations and in high-voltage battery production.

For now, BMW says only a small number of units — in the single digits — will operate alongside human employees, complementing existing automation systems rather than replacing them.

BMW executives are framing the move as part of a broader push toward digitalization and “physical AI” in manufacturing. Milan Nedeljković, the company’s production chief and incoming CEO, described digital technologies as key to maintaining competitiveness.

BMW isn’t alone in exploring humanoid robotics. Automakers including Tesla, Mercedes, and Hyundai have all signaled interest in similar technologies. Analysts at Morgan Stanley have projected that the humanoid robotics market could reach $5 trillion by 2050, with large-scale adoption expected particularly in China.

Full-scale deployment — if it happens — will depend on how well the robots integrate into existing workflows and whether they can deliver measurable productivity gains.

Still, the direction is clear. As manufacturing becomes more complex, automakers are increasingly looking beyond traditional industrial robots.

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(Sources: 1, 2)

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