Hyundai shines at CES... with robots
Vehicles are somewhat less prominent this year at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, but Hyundai is still there to present its new robotics strategy featuring artificial intelligence.
Broadly speaking, the Korean manufacturer wants to draw on the expertise of its subsidiary Boston Dynamics to develop a range of robots designed to assist and collaborate with humans. It plans to deploy them in its factories and logistics/sales operations from 2028 onwards, and to market them for private everyday use in the longer term.
Please understand, we are not just talking about impersonal robots like the Stretch warehouse assistant or even the four-legged robot called Spot, which the company has already deployed in more than 40 countries around the world. At CES 2026, Hyundai and Boston Dynamics unveiled Atlas, a humanoid robot equipped with artificial intelligence (via Google DeepMind) that is intended to be a replica of Tesla's Optimus.
Equipped with rotary joints and advanced sensors, Atlas can operate in complex industrial environments, perform repetitive tasks, and leverage machine learning to quickly adapt to new functions. Its mechanical design allows for dynamic movements and use in spaces traditionally reserved for humans. It also has human-sized hands with tactile properties.
Hyundai says it can learn most tasks in less than 24 hours, operate independently from day one (including automatic battery replacement), lift loads of 50 kg (110 lb), perform a variety of tasks requiring high precision, and withstand water (including washing). Its optimal operating temperature range is 20 to 40 degrees Celsius.
Before large-scale deployment, Atlas will be extensively and rigorously tested and trained in Hyundai Group's controlled manufacturing environments to validate its proper operation and capabilities. The goal is to produce 30,000 units annually by 2028 as part of its US$26 billion investment over four years in the United States.
Finally, it is worth mentioning that Hyundai won the award for best robotics innovation at CES 2026 for MobED (Mobile Eccentric Droid), a small, highly versatile four-wheeled robot that you can see in our photo gallery at the top of the page.
