Japan's Mitsubishi to Mass-Produce Humanoid Robots Using Surplus Capacity by 2027

en.Wedoany.com Reported - Japan's Mitsubishi Motors and Highlanders Inc., a robotics startup incubated by the University of Tokyo, have announced a partnership to develop humanoid robots suitable for factory work, with plans to begin mass production at Mitsubishi's engine plant as early as 2027. The two companies publicly announced this cooperation agreement on July 9, aiming to leverage Mitsubishi's existing capacity to provide Highlanders with manufacturing technology and large-scale production channels.

With this move, Mitsubishi enters the humanoid robot race. Global automakers such as Hyundai Motor Group, Toyota Motor, BMW, and Renault have already embraced robots as a driving force to enhance production efficiency and are seeking to generate new revenue streams through contract manufacturing models. In January, Hyundai Motor Group stated its goal to deploy humanoid robots in automotive manufacturing and establish a production system capable of producing 30,000 robots annually. Morgan Stanley predicts that the global humanoid robot market could reach $5 trillion by 2050.

Founded in 2023 and originating from the University of Tokyo, Highlanders' business covers humanoid robots and dog-shaped quadruped robots, with a product line similar to that of Hyundai Motor's partner Boston Dynamics. The two companies stated that they will work together to achieve a society where humans and robots coexist, creating new value in manufacturing and enhancing industrial competitiveness. Japan's rapidly aging population leading to labor shortages, along with competitive pressures from increasingly advanced manufacturing technologies, are the main factors driving the collaboration. At a joint press conference, Highlanders' prototype humanoid robot, Model N, wearing a white T-shirt with a shiny black body, walked stiffly onto the stage before stepping aside.

The partners plan to start production of the Model N robot in Kyoto City, Japan, next year, with a monthly production capacity set at 1,000 units. Mitsubishi has seen a decline in its domestic automobile production in recent years, leaving the plant with surplus capacity. Mitsubishi CEO Takao Kato stated that as an automaker, it is now necessary to start thinking about how to apply humanoid robots in factories; the plant indeed has surplus capacity in terms of space and other aspects, and the goal is to utilize this capacity to achieve more efficient mass production, noting that Mitsubishi's technology and Highlanders' robots are a perfect match. Kato said Mitsubishi plans to begin deploying the robot at other factories as early as the second half of 2027, but executives indicated they are still studying whether the Model N robot is suitable for specific tasks. Mitsubishi expects the robot to assist with tasks such as transporting parts.

Highlanders currently develops robots at a small facility north of Tokyo and is seeking manufacturing partners to help scale up. Highlanders CEO Hiroya Masuoka stated that the company focuses on tasks such as material handling and those that pose risks to human workers, with R&D priorities based on the concept that robots can gradually replace workers in tasks that may lead to workplace injuries. Mitsubishi has already invested in Highlanders, but Kato declined to disclose the investment amount or stake, stating that Mitsubishi is considering increasing its investment and currently has no plans to share the technology with partner Nissan.