Boston Dynamics unveiled an advanced electric version of its Atlas humanoid robot at CES in Las Vegas, positioning it as a rival to Tesla's Optimus. Hyundai, the robot's parent company, announced plans to mass-produce 30,000 units annually from 2028 for use in its car plants. The deployment aims to assist human workers in tasks like parts sequencing, with broader applications by 2030.
Boston Dynamics, a subsidiary of Hyundai since its $1.1 billion acquisition in 2021, showcased the latest iteration of its Atlas robot on January 5, 2026, during a keynote at CES in Las Vegas. The all-electric model features 56 degrees of freedom, up from 50 reported in April 2025, enabling 360-degree joint rotations and human-scale hands with tactile sensing. It can lift up to 110 pounds (50kg), operate in temperatures from -4 to 104 degrees Fahrenheit, and automatically swap its batteries for continuous use.
Hyundai plans to introduce Atlas in its factories starting in 2028, beginning at the Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant in Savannah, Georgia. The company estimates producing 30,000 robots per year, initially for safe processes such as parts sequencing. By 2030, Atlas will handle repetitive motions, heavy loads, and complex operations, fostering what Hyundai describes as a “harmonious collaboration between humans and robots.” This initiative aligns with Hyundai's $21 billion U.S. investment, projected to create 14,000 direct jobs by 2028 and over 100,000 including indirect ones.
The unveiling included a remotely piloted prototype and a static production model, which is water-resistant with baby blue panels and reduced exposed wiring. The keynote opened with Spot robots performing a K-pop dance, highlighting Boston Dynamics' range. Founded as an MIT spin-off in 1992 with DARPA funding, the company gained fame through viral videos of Atlas performing backflips and Spot aiding in scenarios like warehouse inspections—Spot has been sold since June 2020 for $74,500.
Hyundai positions Atlas as more advanced than competitors like Tesla's Optimus, leveraging its supply chain and AI partnerships with Google's DeepMind and Nvidia. While automation raises job loss concerns—such as Amazon's plans to replace over 600,000 U.S. roles by 2033—Hyundai emphasizes productivity gains without widespread displacement.
