BMW to Deploy Humanoid Robots in German Plant, Working 5 Days a Week, 10 Hours a Day

BMW plans to pilot humanoid robots at its Leipzig plant in Germany starting in April, deploying them on assembly lines and in high-voltage battery production. This marks the first time BMW has introduced such robots into a European factory, aiming to address cost pressures, enhance efficiency, and reduce the physical strain on employees working in demanding roles. In earlier trials at BMW’s Spartanburg plant in the U.S., humanoid robots operated five days a week for 10 hours per day, assisting in the production of over 30,000 vehicles within 10 months by precisely handling complex tasks such as placing challenging sheet metal components. BMW stated that humanoid robots will complement existing automation systems and could eventually take over certain processes currently handled by suppliers, enabling more production steps to be brought in-house. New CEO Milan Nedeljković emphasized that digitalization is strengthening BMW’s global manufacturing competitiveness.