Overview
- BMW confirmed a staged pilot at its Leipzig plant using Hexagon’s Aeon, with a December test completed, an April validation scheduled, and a full pilot set for June 2026.
- The Leipzig program is scoped for multifunctional work including high‑voltage battery assembly and component manufacture using a human‑like, modular design that accepts varied grippers and tools.
- BMW’s earlier Figure AI trial in Spartanburg saw humanoids run 10-hour weekday shifts handling sheet metal for welding, with estimates that they helped produce about 30,000 X3s.
- Xiaomi released video of a three‑hour trial in Beijing where its humanoid placed screw nuts on a car floor with roughly a 90% success rate while operating alongside a second unit.
- Founder Lei Jun said the demo is an initial step toward broader factory use over the next five years, though Xiaomi has not disclosed deployment quantities or unit costs.