Hyundai claims humanoid robot plan is not part of talks with striking workers

Hyundai Motor Company said Tuesday its plan to deploy humanoid robots by 2028 is not part of current labor negotiations with striking South Korean autoworkers. The automaker disputed news reports that partial strikes at its South Korean plant were driven by concerns over the planned deployment of Atlas humanoid robots at a U.S. factory starting in 2028. A company statement said the union's demands focus on compensation issues such as wage increases, bonuses and an extension of the retirement age. "Potential deployment of robots in Korean production facilities is not part of the current labor-management discussions," according to the Hyundai statement. The company said decisions about future robot deployment at other facilities will be made in dialogue with employees and workforce representatives at those sites. The Wall Street Journal described the union as seeking job protections in the era of robots and AI. The union previously warned Hyundai after the automaker unveiled the production model of the Atlas robot at the Consumer Electronics Show in January. The robot was developed by Boston Dynamics, a wholly owned Hyundai subsidiary. Hyundai management and the labor union are currently reviewing a proposed wage reform that would provide factory workers with greater income stability after the planned robot deployment, The Korea Times reported.