Introduced: Vending Robot for Automotive Exhibition by Chery
In the realm of automotive innovation, Chinese brand Chery is venturing into uncharted territory by introducing humanoid robots to their dealerships. These robots, affectionately named Morning, look like an elegant woman with long blonde hair and walk on two legs. Equipped with artificial intelligence, they can converse about car features, options, and even serve coffee. The initial cost for one of these robots is a hefty $50,000. A single Morning robot is already operational at a Chery exhibition center in Malaysia.
In another part of the industry, Dongfeng and Ubtech Technology have teamed up to integrate human-like robots into the automotive assembly line. The robot, named Walker S, is designed to inspect seat belts, door locks, monitor welding quality, and handle tasks such as filling engine oil and applying labels. Walker S can also work with electronics. Previously, humanoid robots had reportedly taken over jobs at a Mercedes-Benz plant in Berlin.
The surge in humanoid robot adoption within the auto industry can be attributed to advancements in AI, dexterity, and cost-efficiency goals. These robots are increasingly handling repetitive tasks on the assembly line. For instance, Mercedes-Benz is testing humanoid robots for intralogistics, focusing on parts delivery and low-skill repetitive processes. UB Tech Robotics has deployed its Walker S1 industrial humanoid robots in Dongfeng Liuzhou Motor and BYD factories for training and task-specific operations like component assembly.
what's more, humanoid robots offer flexibility and precision in semi-structured environments. For example, XPENG's Iron robot boasts 22 degrees of freedom in its hands, enabling precise object manipulation crucial for assembly tasks. The goal is to reduce labor costs and achieve efficiency gains by automating high-precision operations.
As the market grows, China stays ahead, making up 52% of humanoid robot companies, with the market projected to exceed $55 billion by 2035. Despite the promising outlook, challenges still remain, such as high development costs and the need for human-like perception.
Though specific dealership deployments for Chery or others aren't detailed in available data, automotive-adjacent uses focus on customer interaction, like XPENG’s Iron showcasing natural conversation abilities via shared AI with autonomous vehicles. Automakers view humanoid robotics as a third growth pillar, alongside electrification and autonomy, to drive next-gen manufacturing efficiency.
- In a move parallel to Chery's deployment of humanoid robots in dealerships, Chinese automakers like Dongfeng are integrating robots into their assembly lines.
- Ubtech Technology's Walker S robot, used in collaboration with Dongfeng, is designed to handle tasks such as inspecting seat belts and filling engine oil.
- Mercedes-Benz, too, has reportedly employed humanoid robots at its Berlin plant, focusing on intralogistics and repetitive processes.
- XPENG's Iron robot, capable of precise object manipulation, demonstrates humanoid robots' potential for reducing labor costs and improving efficiency in assembly tasks.
- China, with 52% of humanoid robot companies, is leading the market, projected to exceed $55 billion by 2035, despite ongoing challenges such as high development costs and the need for human-like perception.
- Aside from dealership interactions, automakers are exploring ways to leverage humanoid robotics for customer service, as seen with XPENG’s Iron featuring natural conversation abilities.
