From Ars Technica · · 1m 30s
Toyota's 400,000 robot plan won't replace workers, it says
The automaker is training humanoid robots on assembly lines while pledging humans and machines will coexist.
In brief
The automaker is training humanoid robots on assembly lines while pledging humans and machines will coexist. Toyota plans massive robot deployment but claims it's about augmenting human workers, not eliminating jobs, even as labor unions worry about layoffs. Originally reported by Ars Technica.
Toyota's massive robot bet
Starting in 2028, Toyota will invest $6.42 billion yearly to deploy 400,000 factory robots: 150,000 in its own plants and 250,000 at group company facilities.
Workers training the robots
Toyota has already deployed ELEY humanoid robots on assembly lines. Workers teach these wheeled robots precise hand movements by wearing finger-based jigs.
No replacement, Toyota insists
Toyota executive Hiroki Nakajima told reporters the company aims for a world where robots coexist with humans rather than replacing them.
“a world where robots coexist with humans, rather than replacing them.”
The global robot race
China deployed 2 million industrial robots in 2024, followed by Japan with 450,500. The US and South Korea ranked third and fourth with 34,200 and 30,600 robots respectively.
Humanoids are different
Unlike traditional robotic arms, humanoid robots are designed as general-purpose machines that can handle many tasks and fit into workplaces built for humans.
Challenges remain
Safety concerns, cost-effectiveness questions, and limited mass production experience still stand in the way of widespread humanoid robot deployment.
Labor unions sound alarm
As automakers retool for electric vehicles and grapple with aging workforces, labor unions worry about layoffs and pressure on worker compensation from increased automation.
The one thing
Toyota plans massive robot deployment but claims it's about augmenting human workers, not eliminating jobs, even as labor unions worry about layoffs.
