Figure 03 starts work! BMW expands deployment of humanoid robots to take on more high-intensity production tasks.

BMW is moving humanoid robots from concept validation to large-scale industrial application, and "Physical AI" in automotive manufacturing has entered a substantive deployment phase.

This week, BMW's plant in Spartanburg, South Carolina, officially deployed Figure AI's latest-generation humanoid robot, Figure 03, to handle high-intensity tasks such as material handling, parts transportation, and warehouse sorting in assembly and logistics areas. This marks a further upgrade in the collaboration between the two parties, following the entry of Figure 02 into BMW's assembly line in 2025.

Jose Asumendi, an analyst at JPMorgan, stated after a field visit that the Spartanburg plant has become an important demonstration base for BMW's "Physical AI" strategy. Humanoid robots are gradually being integrated into production processes, working collaboratively with workers to enhance production efficiency and line flexibility. As more automakers bring robots into their manufacturing systems, humanoid robots are moving from demonstration applications to commercial deployment.

Next-generation Figure robot officially on the job, BMW expands human-machine collaboration

Figure AI recently announced that its new-generation humanoid robot, Figure 03, has entered operation in Building 52 of BMW's Spartanburg plant, which primarily handles assembly and in-plant logistics tasks.

Compared to the previous generation Figure 02, Figure 03 has a broader range of tasks, capable of performing repetitive, high-intensity work such as material transport, parts handling, and warehouse organization, transferring some physical labor from humans to robots.

JPMorgan analyst Jose Asumendi said that these robots are now actively participating in plant logistics and parts handling, allowing employees to focus more on higher value-added processes like precision assembly and quality control.

This robot deployment is also a key component of BMW's $1.7 billion investment plan in South Carolina. According to the plan, the plant will start local production of the all-electric iX5 by the end of 2026, and aims to produce at least six all-electric models in the U.S. by 2030. As the electric vehicle product lineup continues to expand, humanoid robots are seen as an important tool to enhance production line flexibility and alleviate labor pressure.

Commercialization accelerates, institutions raise global humanoid robot forecasts

The rapid deployment in industrial scenarios has also prompted institutions to further raise industry growth expectations.

A recent report by Iris Zheng, Deutsche Bank's Head of Asia-Pacific Automation & Industrial Research, indicates that the commercialization of the humanoid robot industry has significantly accelerated, driven by the accelerated mass production of Chinese manufacturers and Tesla's push for large-scale production.

Zheng's team has therefore raised their global shipment forecasts for the coming years: They expect global humanoid robot shipments to approach 50k units in 2026; grow further to approximately 700k units by 2030; and by 2050, the global annual shipment scale could reach 70 million units, more optimistic than previous forecasts.

Automakers accelerate deployment, "Physical AI" becomes a new track

As the industry enters the early stages of commercialization, automakers are becoming important participants in the humanoid robot industry.

Eunice Lee, an analyst at Bernstein, pointed out that more and more automakers are choosing to develop humanoid robots in-house rather than fully relying on third-party suppliers, reflecting the growing synergy between the automotive supply chain and the robotics supply chain.

Behind this trend is the sharing of a large number of core technologies between the two product categories. Whether it is motors, reducers, sensors, batteries, or software algorithms and control systems, humanoid robots and electric vehicles share a high degree of technological overlap, enabling OEMs to quickly enter the robotics field using existing supply chains and R&D capabilities.

Currently, the industry has formed two different development paths: one group, represented by BMW, first introduces mature robot products to improve manufacturing efficiency and accelerate factory automation upgrades; the other group, represented by Tesla, insists on self-developing humanoid robots, hoping to build long-term technological advantages and explore broader commercial applications beyond manufacturing.

As technology continues to iterate, costs continue to decline, and business cases gradually increase, "Physical AI" is moving from the laboratory to the factory, becoming a new focus of competition in smart manufacturing within the automotive industry.

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