BMW puts AI humanoid robots on its European production line

BMW is introducing AI-powered humanoid robots to its Leipzig car manufacturing plant in Germany.

The initiative aims to integrate human-like robots into the existing series production of vehicles, while also assessing how they could support battery and component manufacturing.

It follows a successful pilot conducted in 2025 at the company’s Spartanburg plant in the United States.

During the USA pilot, the robots were responsible for removal and positioning of sheet metal parts for the welding process – a task that is particularly demanding in terms of speed and accuracy while also being physically exhausting.

In total, the robots moved more than 90,000 components and covered approximately 1.2 million steps in around 1,250 operating hours.

BMW says the pilot confirmed that humanoid robots can safely perform precise, repetitive work steps – such as positioning components with millimetre precision.

BMW Leipzig employs 6,800 people and builds 1,300 cars a day. It is responsible for assembling the BMW 1 Series, 2 Series Gran Coupe and MINI Countryman.

The robots will be used for a variety of tasks, including the assembly of high-voltage batteries and in component manufacturing.

Michael Nikolaides, Senior Vice President Production Network, Supply Chain Management at BMW Group, continued: “Our aim is to be a technology leader and to integrate new technologies into production at an early stage. “Pilot projects help us to test and further develop the use of Physical AI – that is, AI‑enabled robots capable of learning – under real-world industrial conditions.”