Hyundai Union Fears Humanoid Robots Will Take Jobs from Humans
The Hyundai union has warned the company's management about the risks associated with the implementation of humanoid robots. The organization emphasized in its statement that the use of such technologies could lead to "employment shocks" and stated that no robot should appear in production without the union’s approval.
What Is the Cause of Concern?
The reason was Hyundai's plans, announced at CES 2026. The company intends to deploy Boston Dynamics' Atlas humanoid robots at the HMG Metaplant America factory in the USA by 2028 and views robotics as one of the key growth drivers. Hyundai claims that the robots will mainly perform routine and dangerous operations, which people usually avoid, increasing efficiency without directly displacing workers.
The union disagrees with this. In its opinion, the mass introduction of robots is primarily a way to reduce costs in the interest of shareholders. The maintenance of one Atlas is estimated to cost about 14 million won per year (around $9,500), which is significantly cheaper than human labor costs.
The union also criticized plans to expand Metaplant America's capacity from less than 100,000 vehicles per year to 500,000 by 2028, perceiving it as an intention to move production outside Korea. In 2025, Hyundai announced an investment in the USA amounting to $21 billion (later increased to $25 billion) amid American tariffs and dialogue with Donald Trump's administration, while simultaneously promising to invest $86 billion in projects within South Korea.
Hyundai plans to produce up to 30,000 humanoid robots a year by 2028, aiming to reduce their price to below $320,000 through scaling and manufacturing experience. The serial Atlas can walk, rotate 360 degrees, is equipped with tactile sensors for handling fragile parts, and has replaceable batteries allowing it to work without interruption during four-hour shifts.
Source: Automotiveworld
