Mitsubishi Motors partners with Japanese startup to develop AI humanoid robots

Mitsubishi Motors Corporation has partnered with a University of Tokyo startup to develop and mass-produce humanoid robots equipped with artificial intelligence, targeting a production capacity of 1,000 units per month by the end of 2027. The Japanese automaker plans to leverage its advanced manufacturing expertise to develop the bipedal robots together with Highlanders Inc., according to a statement made in July. The initiative is expected to help address the growing labour shortage crisis. The effort is aimed at gathering essential data for the development and mass production of AI-based robots specifically designed for the automotive industry. Development of humanoid robots is currently being pursued aggressively by several global companies, particularly from the United States and China. However, Mitsubishi Motors CEO Takao Kato stressed at a press conference in Tokyo that the company’s participation makes it a pioneer in the mass production of humanoid robots within Japan. Highlanders, which develops multipurpose robots using domestically produced components, expressed optimism about the collaboration. CEO Hiroya Masuoka noted that no Japanese company has yet been able to compete globally in the combined field of robotics and AI technology, making this partnership a significant step forward.