South Korea’s automotive giant Hyundai Motor faces a worker uprising over its push into humanoid robotics. The powerful labor union, with 40,000 members, issued a stark warning on Friday: no physical AI robots, like the cutting-edge Atlas model, will be tolerated on factory floors without union approval.
Unveiled at CES 2026, Atlas from Boston Dynamics boasts a fully articulated human form, capable of complex tasks that mirror human labor. This has ignited panic among Hyundai’s South Korean employees, who see it as a ploy to cut costs and replace them. ‘Any deployment without our consent is unacceptable,’ the union proclaimed online.
The stakes are high. Hyundai plans a massive US robot plant by 2028, churning out 30,000 Atlases yearly for industrial use. At home, factories suffer as production migrates to Georgia’s Metaplant America, ballooning from 100,000 to 500,000 vehicles annually. This offshoring, the union argues, exacerbates job insecurity.
‘Domestic production is being hollowed out,’ the union charged, pointing to already strained home facilities. Their stance reflects global anxieties over AI displacing blue-collar jobs in manufacturing hubs.
On a brighter note for Hyundai, its vehicles shone at prestigious awards. Hyundai and Kia clinched seven honors at Britain’s What Car? Awards 2026 in SUV and EV segments, plus US accolades. Yet, as innovation races ahead, the clash between robots and unions could redefine Hyundai’s labor landscape for years to come.