German automaker BMW announced Friday it will deploy two AI-powered humanoid robots at its Leipzig factory this summer in a first-of-its-kind pilot programme, as the struggling German car industry races to match rapid advances from Chinese rivals.The robots, dubbed AEON and developed by Swedish technology company Hexagon, stand 1.65 metres tall, weigh 60 kilogrammes, and move on two wheels.
Unlike traditional factory robots, AEON units can autonomously manipulate and transport components across pre-scanned, digitised factory environments, working directly alongside human employees.
Each AEON robot is equipped with 22 sensors and multiple camera systems, giving it what Hexagon Robotics president Arnaud Robert describes as "full awareness of its environment." The AI system is intelligent enough to generate its own operational decisions in a live manufacturing setting, according to BMW's incoming chairman and current head of production, Milan Nedeljkovic.
Battery life stands at approximately three hours, though Hexagon says the robots can autonomously replace their own batteries at a charging station in just 30 seconds, a key advantage for continuous factory deployment. Pricing has not been disclosed, but Robert confirmed the cost runs into the hundreds of thousands of euros per unit.
During a demonstration at BMW's Munich workshop, an AEON robot was shown navigating independently toward a vehicle, scanning its front door, and retrieving and handing over components, tasks that reflect real production-line workflows.
The pilot comes as Germany's automotive sector faces mounting pressure from aggressive Chinese competition and the need to accelerate innovation. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, visiting China on Thursday, was shown a coordinated performance of humanoid robots from Chinese manufacturer Unitree, a pointed display of Beijing's technological momentum.
BMW's head of digitisation, Michael Stroebel, sought to address workforce concerns on Friday, stating there are "no current plans to reduce the workforce" as a result of the new robots. The announcement nonetheless arrives amid broader European anxiety over factory automation and potential job displacement driven by AI and robotics.
The Leipzig pilot, set to run for several months starting this summer, will be closely watched as a bellwether for how traditional European manufacturers integrate humanoid robotics into high-volume production environments.
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