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Hyundai Union Vows to Block Humanoid Robots on Assembly Lines

The labor union at Hyundai Motor has declared it will strongly oppose the deployment of physical AI robots on production lines without a prior labor-management agreement. The union's statement was prompted by the unveiling of the Atlas humanoid robot by Hyundai-owned Boston Dynamics, which raised significant concerns over job security at domestic plants. Hyundai Motor plans to mass-produce these robots in a US foundry by 2028 and introduce them into manufacturing operations. Separately, the union expressed worries about employment instability due to production being shifted to overseas plants, specifically highlighting the expansion of the Georgia facility.

Key Points: Hyundai Union Opposes AI Robot Deployment in Auto Production

  • Union opposes AI robots without consultation
  • Fears over job security and cost-cutting
  • Atlas robot unveiled at CES 2026
  • Plans for US robot foundry by 2028
  • Concerns over production shifting overseas
2 min read

Hyundai Motor union objects to deployment of humanoid robots

Hyundai Motor's union strongly objects to deploying Atlas humanoid robots without agreement, citing job security fears and overseas production shifts.

"Not a single humanoid robot will be allowed on the production lines without a labor-management agreement - Hyundai Motor Union"

Seoul, Jan 23

The labour union of Hyundai Motor, South Korea's leading automaker, said on Friday it will strongly oppose any deployment without prior consultation of physical artificial intelligence robots in automobile production.

"Not a single humanoid robot will be allowed on the production lines without a labor-management agreement," the automaker's 40,000-member union said on its website, reports Yonhap news agency.

The union said the company's new humanoid robot Atlas, unveiled at CES 2026 in Las Vegas on Jan. 6, sent shockwaves through the auto industry and heightened concerns over job security at the company's domestic plants.

"The company is apparently moving to introduce AI robots to reduce labor costs at production facilities," the union said. "Any deployment without the union's agreement will not be tolerated."

Boston Dynamics, owned by Hyundai Motor, publicly demonstrated the life-sized Atlas humanoid robot, featuring two arms and two legs, for the first time at the CES technology showcase.

Hyundai Motor said it plans to build a robot foundry in the United States by 2028 to mass-produce 30,000 Atlas robots and introduce them in manufacturing operations.

Separately, the union also raised concerns about employment instability stemming from production shifts to overseas plants.

"Two domestic plants are already suffering shortages in production volumes as output is being transferred to Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America (HMGMA) in Georgia," the union said.

The company's plan to expand the Metaplant's annual output from less than 100,000 vehicles currently to 500,000 units by 2028 clearly indicates an intention to shift a substantial portion of domestic production overseas, it added.

Meanwhile, Hyundai Motor Group said its brands have won multiple honors across different vehicle segments at major automotive awards in Britain and the United States.

At the '2026 What Car?' Awards, a major British automotive awards event, Hyundai Motor Co. and Kia Corp. won a total of seven honors spanning their sport utility vehicle (SUV) and electric vehicle (EV) lineups, the South Korean automotive giant said in a release.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

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Priya S
Completely support the union! 🤝 Technology should assist workers, not replace them entirely. Hyundai is a major player here in India as well. If they start this in Korea, what's stopping them from doing it in Chennai or Sriperumbudur? Our auto sector employs lakhs of people.
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Rohit P
The shift to the US plant is also worrying. It shows how global companies chase incentives and cheaper logistics. India needs to create a policy environment that keeps manufacturing here, but also prepares our workforce for the future with skills in robotics maintenance and AI oversight.
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Sarah B
While I understand the fear, resisting all automation might make the company less competitive globally. The key is balance. Use robots for dangerous, repetitive tasks and upskill workers for more complex roles. A phased introduction with union agreement is the only way forward.
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Vikram M
Humanoid robots on assembly lines sound like sci-fi, but it's here. The Atlas demo was impressive tech, I saw the videos. But as an engineer, I know the cost. We must ask: is replacing a skilled worker with a crore-plus rupee machine that needs constant maintenance really more efficient in the long run? 🤔
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Karthik V
The union's stance is strong, but I hope the negotiation is constructive. Simply blocking progress isn't the answer. They should negotiate for robust retraining programs, profit-sharing from increased efficiency, and guarantees against layoffs. That's how you build a future-ready industry.

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