Leipzig, 12 June 2026

BMW has launched the pilot phase for the use of humanoid robots in production at its Leipzig plant and plans to industrialize the technology by the end of the year.

BMW has launched the pilot phase for the use of humanoid robots in production at its Leipzig plant. Following laboratory trials and initial tests in production, the actual pilot phase is now underway under production conditions. The machines from Swiss company Hexagon are being tested in battery assembly and components manufacturing – under real production conditions.

Michael Ströbel, Head of Process Management and Digitalization in Production at BMW, said: "Wir wollen bis Ende des Jahres die Pilotphase abschließen und dann industrialisieren, das heißt ausrollen und weitere Anwendungsszenarien finden - nicht nur in Leipzig, sondern auch in anderen Werken." Leipzig is, according to the company, the first site in Europe where the new pilot phase with humanoid robots is running. BMW has been testing the technology in Leipzig since the end of last year.

Areas of use in battery assembly and components manufacturing

In battery assembly, the robots are learning, among other things, how to handle components for high-voltage storage units – the drive batteries of electric cars. The new technology is also being trialed in quality control and components manufacturing. This includes handling components for high-voltage storage units – the drive batteries of electric cars – as well as transport tasks in components manufacturing.

Employees initially teach them the necessary motion sequences. To do this, employees put on virtual reality glasses and demonstrate the required motion sequences to the robots. After several repetitions, the machines are to be able to perform the tasks independently.

From BMW's perspective, one advantage of the technology is that newly learned skills do not have to be programmed or trained individually for each machine. Ströbel said: "Das Schöne ist, wenn wir es einem Roboter beigebracht haben, können es alle." The humanoid robots have, according to those involved in the project, even been given nicknames. At the plant they are often simply called "Robby."

Learning phase via virtual reality

With the measuring device, the machine checks vehicle bodies for defects and geometric deviations, thereby supporting quality control. The robots are intended to support employees above all in monotonous, ergonomically demanding, or safety-critical tasks. According to the developers, the batteries last about three to four hours depending on the activity. The robots can then change their battery independently – a kind of short "coffee break" for the machine.

Plant manager Petra Peterhänsel emphasized that the robots are not intended as a replacement for employees. "Die Mitarbeiter müssen sich keine Sorgen machen, dass aufgrund des Einsatzes humanoider Roboter Arbeitsplätze wegfallen", said Peterhänsel. Employees would instead take on other tasks at the plant.

Company's position on jobs

Darius Wilke, Vice President of Hexagon Robotics, pointed to the advantages of human-like machines in existing factory halls. "Viele Arbeitsplätze sind für Menschen geschaffen", said Wilke. Humanoid robots that can be integrated into existing factory structures therefore offer advantages. Ströbel also said: "Wir stehen am Beginn der nächsten industriellen Revolution."

Last year, BMW had already gained initial experience with humanoid robots from the company Figure at its Spartanburg plant in the US. BMW then intends to gradually transfer the technology to further applications and sites. The goal is to further develop the technology for later broader use in production.

Outlook: Industrialization and additional plants

In addition to connecting to the hydrogen network, the Leipzig plant is betting on a second future technology: humanoid robots. Only recently it became known that Porsche plans to cut 200 jobs at its Leipzig site. Leipzig is now the first site in Europe where the technology is being trialed in this form.