Toyota to Introduce Humanoid Robots in Global Factories Starting 2028

Toyota Motor Corporation has announced ambitious plans to integrate humanoid robots into its manufacturing plants around the world beginning in 2028. The Japanese automaker intends to gradually roll out as many as 400,000 robots developed in-house across its production facilities, aiming to modernize operations and work in tandem with human employees.

The initiative will start with an investment of approximately 1 trillion Japanese yen, equivalent to 6.4 billion US dollars annually. The initial phase focuses on deploying around 150,000 humanoid robots at Toyota's headquarters plants. Following this, the company plans to introduce an additional 250,000 robots across its 60 manufacturing sites globally.

These robots are part of Toyota's new 'ELEY' project, which stands for Embodied Learning robot for Enhanced Yield. ELEY units are battery-operated wheeled robots that weigh about 50 kilograms. They are designed to perform various tasks such as picking components from containers and placing them where needed, as well as folding fabrics. Currently, the robots are undergoing a training phase, where they learn the specific movements and procedures performed by human workers on production lines.

Toyota will centralize the data gathered from these robots’ learning processes. This data will then be used to program new units and could potentially enable robots to assist in training new employees in the future. The company emphasized that the robots are not intended to replace human workers but to coexist and collaborate with them, enhancing productivity and efficiency.

The decision to integrate humanoid robots aligns with broader trends in the automotive industry, where manufacturers are increasingly adopting automation technologies to meet rising production demands and improve precision. Toyota's approach, which combines human skills with robotic assistance, reflects an effort to balance innovation with workforce stability.

Introducing robots during the launch of new vehicle models and as production capacity expands allows Toyota to upgrade its factories systematically. This strategy ensures smooth transitions and minimizes disruptions while incorporating advanced technology.

Overall, Toyota’s plan to deploy humanoid robots on such a large scale represents a significant step in manufacturing automation. By investing heavily in robotics and focusing on human-robot collaboration, the company aims to enhance factory efficiency and maintain its competitive edge in the global automotive market.