Mitsubishi Plans Humanoid Robot Production in Kyoto for 2027
Mitsubishi Motors plans to begin humanoid robot production at its Kyoto plant in the first half of 2027, according to Assembly Magazine, using an unused engine production line to build machines developed by Tokyo based Highlanders Inc.
The automaker said the line is expected to produce up to 1,000 robots per month. Initial units are intended for Mitsubishi’s own manufacturing facilities, where the company says they will help address anticipated labor shortages, before any possible sales to other manufacturers.
Key facts
- Production timing: First half of 2027
- Planned capacity: Up to 1,000 robots per month
- Robot height: Approximately 1.75 meters
- Production site: Mitsubishi Motors’ Kyoto plant
An automotive line repurposed for humanoids
The production setting is the most concrete part of the announcement. For a field crowded with pilot programs and controlled demonstrations, a stated 1,000 unit monthly capacity target is unusually specific.
It also raises execution questions that the source article does not answer, including yield, cost, service model and the division of manufacturing responsibility between Mitsubishi, Highlanders and suppliers. Mitsubishi said it will apply manufacturing expertise and quality systems developed through decades of vehicle production, a credible advantage if the company can adapt those systems to robot assembly and support.
Limited specifications so far
The announced robot is approximately 1.75 meters tall and equipped with AI that enables it to assess its surroundings autonomously, according to the report. It also has articulated hands capable of grasping and carrying objects, which Mitsubishi frames as relevant to tasks requiring human dexterity.
Assembly Magazine did not report a model name, payload rating, runtime, degrees of freedom or confirmed factory tasks. Without those details, the production plan is easier to evaluate as a manufacturing commitment than as evidence that the robot is ready for broad plant floor deployment.
Mitsubishi’s plan follows rising automaker interest in humanoids for production environments. The source cites Toyota trials at a Canadian plant and BMW’s introduction of humanoid robots into production. Mitsubishi’s internal deployment plan gives the company a controlled proving ground before any external sales, if it reaches that stage.
Source: assemblymag.com
