Mitsubishi Motors to mass-produce humanoid robots at its Kyoto plant

Mitsubishi Motors announced on Wednesday that it has signed a memorandum of understanding with Highlanders, a University of Tokyo-born robotics startup, to jointly develop humanoid robots and mass-produce them at the automaker's Kyoto Plant, with production targeted to begin as early as 2027.mitsubishi-motors

The partnership will see Mitsubishi Motors first deploy humanoid robots at its own factories for tasks including transporting parts and assembling engines, while accumulating operational data to refine the technology. Simultaneously, the company plans to leverage unused buildings at its Kyoto engine plant to manufacture Highlanders' robots, aiming for a monthly production capacity of 1,000 units.investing+1

A First for the Auto Industry

Mitsubishi Motors described the deal as "the first collaboration of its kind between an automotive manufacturer and a humanoid robotics developer involving mass production". The automaker said it would contribute its expertise in mass-production engineering, quality assurance, and mechatronics control technologies to the effort.mitsubishi-motors

"Our collaboration with Highlanders represents a challenge aimed at building a new industrial foundation in which humans and robots work together," said Takao Kato, Mitsubishi Motors' chairman and CEO. Highlanders CEO Hiroya Masuoka said achieving mass production of domestically developed humanoid robots through the partnership "represents a significant step" toward addressing industrial challenges through robotics and physical AI.mitsubishi-motors

Addressing Labor Shortages

The collaboration is driven by Japan's deepening labor shortages and the need for more flexible manufacturing systems. Mitsubishi Motors has already invested in Highlanders and plans to increase that investment. The automaker is also considering selling the robots to third parties in the future.investing+1

The deal adds Mitsubishi Motors to a growing list of automakers turning to humanoid robotics, repurposing automotive manufacturing know-how and idle factory capacity for a new class of machines as the industry navigates electrification and demographic pressures.