Boston Dynamics opens center to train Atlas robots for Hyundai factories

Boston Dynamics on Monday launched its Robotics Metaplant Application Center at Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America outside Savannah, Georgia, creating a dedicated facility to train its Atlas humanoid robots for real-world automotive manufacturing.bostondynamics+1

The center, known as RMAC, functions as what Boston Dynamics calls a "Robot Behavior Factory," where Atlas robots learn to handle automotive parts logistics — sequencing components, extracting them from shipping packaging, and placing them into transport cubbies for the assembly line.therobotreport

Training on the Factory Floor

Atlas is learning through a combination of teleoperation, reinforcement learning in simulation, and Universal Manipulation Interface devices, according to Zack Jackowski, Boston Dynamics' chief product and technology officer. The tasks demand sophisticated dexterous manipulation, as car parts often have cosmetic or fragile surfaces, require bimanual handling due to awkward weight distribution, and must be extracted from complex packaging.therobotreport

"Together with Hyundai Motor Group, we are pioneering physical AI at enterprise scale," Jackowski said in a statement. "RMAC reinforces our shared ambition to create a future where robots amplify human potential by making work safer and more productive."bostondynamics

Jackowski told The Robot Report that RMAC differs from previous Atlas trials, which were "time-boxed deployments" focused on gathering design lessons. "You should think of it as a 'Robot Behavior Factory,' which takes real parts, fixtures, workcells; adds Atlas robots and skilled pilots; and produces diverse, high-quality data for behavior training," he said.therobotreport

Scaling to 25,000 Units

Hyundai Motor Group plans to deploy 25,000 Atlas units across Hyundai Motor and Kia global plants over the coming years, with a new U.S. production facility capable of manufacturing 30,000 robots annually targeted for completion by 2028. Applications will expand from parts logistics to component assembly by 2030.axios+1

The RMAC itself is set to grow roughly tenfold next year when operations move into a larger building at the Metaplant America campus. Boston Dynamics is also in discussions with existing Spot and Stretch customers in aerospace, semiconductors, logistics, and life sciences to broaden Atlas training data collection in 2027.bostondynamics+1

Eyes on Europe

Hyundai is already looking beyond the United States. The Korea Herald reported Monday that the company is exploring Atlas deployment at its manufacturing plant in Nošovice, Czech Republic — its sole EU production facility — though no timeline has been set. Experts cited in the report said Europe's aging demographics and shrinking workforce make it a prime market for humanoid robotics, though stricter labor protections and union negotiations will require a more cautious approach than in the U.S.koreaherald