Hyundai’s strategy to commercialize humanoid robots by 2028 is currently not a part of negotiations with striking South Korean auto workers.
The automaker refutes claims suggesting that a partial strike by the Hyundai Motor union at the world’s largest car factory was initiated due to concerns over plans to deploy humanoid robots in the U.S. by 2028. According to a statement from Hyundai shared with Ars, the union’s demands principally revolve around compensation issues, including higher wages, bonuses, and an extension of retirement age for workers.
Hyundai clarified: “Introducing robots into our Korean production facilities is not under discussion in current labor-management interactions.” The statement emphasized, “Hyundai Motors is dedicated to constructive engagement with labor unions to reach agreements that benefit both employees and the company in the long run.”
The automaker highlighted that its current plans involve an initial deployment of the Atlas humanoid robot starting in 2028 at Metaplant America, an electric vehicle factory located near Savannah, Georgia. “Future deployment of Atlas to other facilities will be determined based on local operational requirements and through discussions with employees and representatives from the workforce,” the company stated.
However, the Wall Street Journal reported that the Hyundai Motor Workers’ Union is making unprecedented demands for job protection amidst the rise of robots and AI. This includes specific compensation requests as a safeguard against potential reductions in working hours due to the implementation of AI and robotic automation.
Previously, the union cautioned Hyundai Motor Company about the necessity for negotiations after the company unveiled its Atlas humanoid robot production model at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas this January. The Atlas robot was created by Boston Dynamics, now a wholly-owned subsidiary of Hyundai Motor Company.
“It is essential to note that without a collective agreement, the introduction of robots using new technology into the workplace will not be permitted,” the union communicated to Hyundai in an internal letter. Reuters reported.
Currently, Hyundai management and the labor union are contemplating a wage reform plan aimed at providing factory workers with more income security, even with the proposed introduction of humanoid robots. A report from Korea Times states that experts caution the wage review—which converts overtime and night shift pay into fixed wages—might compromise productivity for companies.
Source: arstechnica.com