Mitsubishi Motors to build and deploy humanoid robots

In July 2026, Mitsubishi Motors signed a memorandum of understanding with Highlanders, a University of Tokyo robotics startup, to jointly develop humanoid robots for its manufacturing operations and explore mass production at the Kyoto Plant from early 2027. The agreement is the first between an automaker and a humanoid robotics developer to encompass mass production.

Japan’s manufacturing sector faces growing pressure from labor shortages and increasingly complex production demands, making flexible automated systems a rising priority for the industry. Mitsubishi Motors will deploy Highlanders robots at its own facilities to build operational expertise, while Highlanders gains a credible route to scaled production through Mitsubishi Motors’ established capabilities in mass-production engineering, quality assurance, and mechatronics control. Currently unused buildings at the Kyoto Plant are being assessed for the production program. Mitsubishi Motors has already invested in Highlanders and expects to invest further.

Mitsubishi Motors’ Kyoto Plant has unused buildings that could begin producing Highlanders robots as early as 2027, turning a stranded asset into a new revenue stream while giving a startup the mass-production infrastructure it could not otherwise access. Using Mitsubishi’s own production lines as the first test environment generates operational data and real-world refinement in conditions that matter to the eventual customer base; other manufacturers are facing the same labor shortage pressures that are driving this partnership in the first place.

Impact on the Automotive Market

Humanoid robots are increasingly being deployed in automotive manufacturing to enhance efficiency, safety, and flexibility, with major OEMs like BMW, Tesla, and Toyota leading in terms of market adoption.

The auto industry seems to be going all-in on robotics. The automotive sector has become the primary adopter of industrial robots. Humanoid robots are transitioning from experimental prototypes to more practical tools when it comes to automotive manufacturing, particularly for tasks that require human-like mobility and dexterity. While challenges in dexterity, safety, and component supply remain, early deployments demonstrate measurable gains in efficiency, safety, and ROI. With continued AI integration, cost reductions, and strategic investment, humanoid robots are poised to become a core element of smart automotive factories in the upcoming years. 

Impact in the Artificial Intelligence Robots Market

The global artificial intelligence robots market size was estimated at USD 20.51 billion in 2025 and is predicted to increase from USD 24.71 billion in 2026 to approximately USD 144.38 billion by 2035, expanding at a CAGR of 21.55% from 2026 to 2035.

According to Precedence Research, the market is witnessing substantial growth, mainly due to the acceleration caused by breakthroughs in machine learning, sensor fusion, and natural language processing, sparking massive investments and widespread adoption of intelligent, autonomous systems to enhance operational efficiency and productivity.

The market is also shifting from conventional rule-based automation to highly adaptive and digitally advanced models. This shift is driven by the adoption of machine learning, computer vision, natural language processing, and edge AI technologies. Factors such as growing structural labor shortages, increasing demands for precision intralogistics, and a rising need for continuous operational efficiency are further fueling market growth. Additionally, the rise of Robot-as-a-Service (RaaS) models, advancements in sensor hardwares, and the deployment of collaborative robots are boosting market accessibility, safety, and adoption.

Impact in the Humanoid Robot Market

The global humanoid robot market size is calculated at USD 1.84 billion in 2025 and is predicted to increase from USD 2.16 billion in 2026 to approximately USD 8.78 billion by 2035, expanding at a CAGR of 16.91% from 2026 to 2035.

According to Precedence Research, one of the primary factors driving the growth of the humanoid robot market is the enhanced use of humanoid robots for surveillance and security applications, including detection of unauthorized intrusion and terror activities, improved use of AI robots in dangerous areas, and research and space investigation enabling connectivity from a distant location. The market’s growth is accelerating even more with the growing trend and demand for humanoid robots in most sectors to scale up the business and advance the existing human-centric infrastructure. Alongside the hardware and software space is also gaining massive profit in the humanoid robot market with the advancement in exemplifying AI.

Across the humanoid robot market, robotics research is becoming more focused on AI. Previously, humanoid robot research only focused on developing automated machines that looked and behaved like humans. However, more researchers have begun to focus on integrating AI into these robots to improve their performance and make them more autonomous in recent years.

Expert Opinion

In a statement, Takao Kato, chairman of the board, representative executive officer and Chief Executive of Mitsubishi Motors, said:

“Our collaboration with Highlanders represents a challenge aimed at building a new industrial foundation in which humans and robots work together. At the same time, it provides Mitsubishi Motors with a valuable opportunity to deepen our technological and business expertise in the field of humanoid robotics. By utilizing humanoid robots in our own manufacturing facilities and supporting the production of Highlanders products, we aim to leverage the outcomes of this collaboration to drive our growth and enhance corporate value.”