Humanoid Robots in Factories: BMW’s Gamble
- Published on 28/02/2026 18:03
- Modified on 28/02/2026 18:07
BMW reaches a historic milestone by integrating autonomous humanoid robots at the heart of its production lines.
The BMW group is accelerating its digital transformation by introducing, for the first time on European soil, the concept of “physical AI”. After a successful trial in the United States, the Leipzig plant becomes the new testing ground for humanoid robots capable of collaborating directly with human operators. This initiative is part of the BMW iFACTORY strategy, aiming for a more flexible, technological, and competitive production.
The integration of these robots, notably the AEON model developed with Hexagon, is not aimed at replacing the workforce, but at assisting it. These mobile and versatile units are designed to perform repetitive, monotonous, or ergonomically challenging tasks. In Leipzig, the pilot project focuses on the assembly of high-voltage batteries and the manufacturing of components, where millimeter precision is essential.
A technology at the service of humans?
This European launch builds on the success of an initial project conducted in 2025 at the Spartanburg plant in the United States. For ten months, the Figure 02 robot handled over 90,000 metal parts for the production of the BMW X3. This real-world test demonstrated that AI systems could leave laboratories to quickly adapt to the real constraints of an assembly line, while being perfectly accepted by local teams.
To orchestrate this revolution, the group has created a “Center of Competence for Physical AI”. This hub centralizes BMW’s global expertise, transforming data silos into a unique and standardized platform. With this unified data model, robots can learn autonomously and adapt to complex environments.
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By marrying traditional engineering expertise with artificial intelligence, the BMW Group is redefining the standards of tomorrow’s automotive industry, where the machine must become an agile and intelligent extension of the modern factory.
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This page is translated from the original post "Robots humanoïdes en usine : Le pari de BMW" in French.
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