Mitsubishi Is Building Humanoid Robots for Its Car Factories

Japan’s labor shortage has been getting worse for years, and Mitsubishi is trying something different to fix it — humanoid robots doing assembly line work.

The automaker has partnered with a startup called Highlanders to develop humanoid robots for factory use, according to industry sources. Mitsubishi had already invested in Highlanders prior to the joint development deal and hasn’t ruled out putting more money in later.

The robots will be built at Mitsubishi’s Kyoto plant, which currently produces engines. Production could begin as early as next year, with a target of 1,000 units per month. That’s a meaningful volume for a product category that’s still mostly in the pilot-project phase.

These AI-powered machines will start with the basics — moving parts around the factory floor and handling engine assembly. If they perform well enough, Mitsubishi says it may sell the robots to other companies.

The company isn’t entering an empty market. Agility Robotics already has its Digit robot working in warehouses for clients including Amazon. Boston Dynamics plans to put its Atlas humanoid to work in factories by 2028. Figure AI intends to deploy robots at logistics centers later this year.

Mitsubishi’s edge might be in the Japanese manufacturing context — a deeply experienced automaker integrating robots into its own production lines before offering them externally. That gives the company real-world testing data that software-first robotics startups often lack.