Hyundai Motor Group’s Atlas humanoid robots are on display at the group’s booth at the CES technology show, one of the world’s largest IT and home appliance trade fairs, in Las Vegas, Nevada, on Jan. 6, 2026, after the four-day event opened with about 4,500 companies taking part. (Yonhap)
LAS VEGAS•SEOUL, Jan. 7 (Korea Bizwire) — Hyundai Motor Group placed robotics, rather than automobiles, at the center of its CES 2026 showcase in Las Vegas this week, signaling a strategic push to bring artificial intelligence–driven robots from research labs into factories and everyday life.
Under the theme “AI Robotics, Beyond the Lab and Into Life,” the South Korean automaker set up its largest-ever booth at the Las Vegas Convention Center’s West Hall, dedicating most of the 1,836-square-meter space to robotic technologies.
Only two vehicles were on display, both used for demonstrations of robotaxi and automated parking systems based on the Ioniq 5 electric vehicle.
The star attraction was Atlas, Hyundai’s next-generation humanoid robot, which drew large crowds on the opening day. During live demonstrations, Atlas moved automotive parts from one area to another, bending its waist and knees with fluid motion and handling components with notable precision.
The robot, which stands about 190 centimeters tall and weighs 90 kilograms, is equipped with fully rotating joints, tactile sensors in its hands, 360-degree vision and the ability to lift up to 50 kilograms.
Hyundai Motor Group’s MobED self-driving robot carries a golf bag at the group’s booth at the CES technology show, one of the world’s largest IT and home appliance trade fairs, in Las Vegas, Nevada, on Jan. 6, 2026, after the four-day event opened with about 4,500 companies taking part. (Yonhap)
Hyundai said Atlas will begin working in parts classification at its Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America in Georgia in 2028, with its role expanding to assembly tasks by 2030.
Visitors also showed strong interest in Mobed, a modular mobility robot platform that won a CES Best Innovation Award. Designed with four independently driven wheels and a posture-control mechanism, Mobed demonstrated its ability to remain level while traversing uneven terrain. Hyundai showcased add-on modules for logistics and urban mobility, including delivery systems and a compact scooter concept.
Other highlights included electric vehicle charging robots, autonomous parking robots capable of lifting and repositioning vehicles, and the X-ble Shoulder, a wearable industrial robot designed to reduce strain on workers performing overhead tasks. The passive device can cut shoulder joint load by up to 60 percent, Hyundai said, and was available for hands-on testing at the booth.
The exhibit also featured quadruped robots, AI-based quality inspection systems and collaborative robots for manufacturing and logistics, reflecting Hyundai’s broader ambition to integrate robotics across industrial and commercial environments.
Spot, Hyundai Motor Group’s four-legged robot dog, demonstrates how to repair a vehicle at the group’s booth at the CES technology show, one of the world’s largest IT and home appliance trade fairs, in Las Vegas, Nevada, on Jan. 6, 2026, after the four-day event opened with about 4,500 companies taking part. (Yonhap)
For many visitors, including engineers from U.S. manufacturers, the display offered a glimpse of how advanced robotics could reshape factory floors. “If we had robots like these at our plant, they could automate many tasks people still do,” said a software engineer from an American truck maker after touring the booth.
Hyundai’s heavy emphasis on robotics at CES underscored a strategic bet that automation and AI-driven machines will play a central role in its future growth, as the company looks beyond traditional carmaking toward a broader vision of smart mobility and intelligent industry.
Kevin Lee (kevinlee@koreabizwire.com)
