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BMW to Pilot Hexagon AEON Humanoid Robots at Leipzig Plant This Year

BMW frames the program as a test of humanoids for battery and component production without targeting workforce reductions.

Overview

  • Two AEON robots will be introduced at the Leipzig factory with another testing phase set for April and a months-long pilot beginning in summer 2026.
  • BMW is evaluating use in high-voltage battery assembly and component handling, with plans to integrate the units into existing series production workflows.
  • The AEON platform stands 1.65 meters tall, weighs 60 kilograms, moves on two wheels, and uses 22 sensors and multiple cameras to operate in fully digitized spaces.
  • Battery runtime is about three hours, with a self-performed swap taking roughly 30 seconds; the developer indicated pricing in the hundreds of thousands of euros.
  • The EU pilot follows a 2025 Spartanburg program using Figure AI robots that supported production of more than 30,000 X3s, as BMW establishes a Center of Competence for Physical AI to scale know‑how.