SEOUL: Hyundai Motor is locked in a high-stakes standoff with its labour union over the company’s plan to deploy humanoid robots by 2028.
The union has issued a clear warning no robots will be allowed on factory floors without union approval, calling the move a potential “employment shock” that could put thousands of jobs at risk.
The announcement of Hyundai’s humanoid robot rollout has sent its shares soaring to record levels, but it has stirred serious concerns among workers.
In an internal letter reviewed by Reuters, the union made it clear that any new robotic technology must have a formal labour-management agreement before deployment.
Earlier this month at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, Hyundai unveiled the production version of its Atlas humanoid robot, developed by its subsidiary Boston Dynamics.
The automaker plans to produce 30,000 units annually by 2028, starting with its Georgia plant in the U.S., and expand the robots’ use across all global production sites.
The union accused Hyundai of prioritizing profits over people, warning that the robots could displace workers and threaten job security. Hyundai Motor has not yet commented on the union’s warning.
The union also criticized Hyundai’s shift of production to the U.S., saying the new Georgia facility is already impacting domestic manufacturing and putting jobs at risk at two Korean plants.
Hyundai, along with its affiliate Kia Corp, is the world’s third-largest automaker by sales. The company said last year that the Georgia plant is expected to reach 500,000 vehicles annually by 2028, a move designed to navigate U.S. tariffs.
