Tensions are rising at Hyundai Motor’s South Korean factories as the workers’ union draws a hard line against humanoid robots. Speaking out on Friday, the 40,000-strong union insisted on negotiations before any AI robots join assembly lines, vowing fierce opposition otherwise.
At the heart of the dispute is Atlas, Boston Dynamics’ (Hyundai-owned) humanoid marvel debuted at CES 2026. With its two arms and legs mimicking human movement, Atlas threatens to automate jobs, prompting union fears of widespread layoffs to reduce expenses.
Yonhap reports the union’s website statement: ‘We will not allow AI robots in production without agreement.’ Hyundai’s roadmap intensifies concerns—a 2028 US factory to produce 30,000 Atlases annually for factories worldwide.
Compounding issues, South Korea plants face output cuts as volumes shift to the Georgia Metaplant, targeting 500,000 vehicles yearly by 2028 from 100,000. ‘Our local operations are suffering from this transfer,’ the union noted.
This showdown highlights the auto sector’s automation crossroads. Hyundai, however, basks in glory: seven What Car? Awards 2026 wins for Hyundai and Kia in UK SUV/EV classes, and US honors. Balancing tech progress with worker rights will test the company’s strategy amid growing labor pushback.