# 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.
- Title: Toyota's 400,000 robot plan won't replace workers, it says
- Summary: The automaker is training humanoid robots on assembly lines while pledging humans and machines will coexist. Toyota plans massive robot deployment but claims…
- Keywords: toyota, humanoid robots, factory automation, eley robot, automotive manufacturing, workforce displacement, labor unions, electric vehicles, robot training, industrial robots, technology, science
- Source: Ars Technica — https://arstechnica.com/ai/2026/09/toyota-claims-plan-for-400000-factory-robots-wont-replace-human-workers
- Published: 2026-09-22T17:06:16+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: toyota, humanoid robots, factory automation, eley robot, automotive manufacturing, workforce displacement, labor unions, electric vehicles, robot training, industrial robots, technology, science
## 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.
## Key takeaway

Toyota plans massive robot deployment but claims it's about augmenting human workers, not eliminating jobs, even as labor unions worry about layoffs.