Mitsubishi Motors and Highlanders Sign MOU to Explore Using and Making Humanoid Robots

Insider Brief

• Mitsubishi Motors and University of Tokyo startup Highlanders signed an MOU to explore humanoid robots for auto manufacturing and possible mass production at Mitsubishi’s Kyoto Plant.
• Mitsubishi said the companies will study joint development of humanoid robots for its manufacturing facilities while examining whether Highlanders products could be produced at the Kyoto site as early as 2027.
• The automaker said the collaboration is intended to address labor shortages, more complex production requirements and demand for more flexible factory systems, while Mitsubishi has already invested in Highlanders and plans additional investment.

Mitsubishi Motors and University of Tokyo startup Highlanders signed an memorandum of understanding to explore humanoid robots for auto making and possible mass production at Mitsubishi’s Kyoto Plant.

According to Mitsubishi, the companies will study the joint development of humanoid robots for use in its manufacturing facilities, while also examining whether Highlanders products could be produced at the Kyoto site. The company noted the partnership comes as Japanese manufacturers face labor shortages, more complex production requirements and demand for more flexible factory systems.

“Our collaboration with Highlanders represents a challenge aimed at building a new industrial foundation in which humans and robots work together,” Takao Kato, chairman of the board, representative executive officer and CEO of Mitsubishi Motors, said in the announcement. “At the same time, it provides Mitsubishi Motors with a valuable opportunity to deepen our technological and business expertise in the field of humanoid robotics. By utilizing humanoid robots in our own manufacturing facilities and supporting the production of Highlanders products, we aim to leverage the outcomes of this collaboration to drive our growth and enhance corporate value.”

As a first step, Mitsubishi plans to use humanoid robots in its own manufacturing plants. The automaker indicated it expects those deployments to generate operating data and know-how while helping it evaluate future development and production opportunities in humanoid robotics.

Mitsubishi also plans to apply its experience in mass-production engineering, quality assurance, durability and safety design, mechatronics control and factory operations to the possible production of Highlanders humanoid robots.

“We believe that achieving mass production of domestically developed humanoid robots through this partnership with Mitsubishi Motors, which brings decades of manufacturing expertise, represents a significant step toward achieving this goal,” added Hiroya Masuoka, representative director and CEO of Highlanders. “Furthermore, deploying our robotics technologies within Mitsubishi Motors’ manufacturing operations will provide a valuable opportunity to drive technological advancement in our products.”

The companies will examine whether production could begin in early 2027 by using currently unused buildings at Mitsubishi’s Kyoto Plant. Mitsubishi also pointed out it has already invested in Highlanders and plans to make additional investments in the future.

Image credit: Mitsubishi Motors