Partnership to advance joint development of humanoids

Under the MOU, the two companies will explore the joint development of humanoid robots for use at Mitsubishi Motors’ manufacturing facilities as well as mass production of Highlanders products at Mitsubishi Motors’ Kyoto Plant.

The environment surrounding Japan’s manufacturing industry is undergoing significant change, with labor shortages, increasingly sophisticated manufacturing operations, and the need for more flexible manufacturing systems emerging as major challenges. Mitsubishi Motors is committed to creating new value by collaborating with a diverse range of partners, including startups, to address these future challenges. Highlanders, meanwhile, aims to help solve workforce-related issues through humanoid robots and advanced robotics technologies, with the goal of realizing a society where humans and robots collaborate seamlessly. Through this partnership, the two companies seek to create new value in manufacturing and enhance industrial competitiveness.

As a first step in its joint development project with Highlanders, Mitsubishi Motors plans to utilise humanoid robots at its own manufacturing facilities. Through practical use, the company will accumulate operational data and know-how while deepening its expertise in the field of humanoid robotics and evaluating opportunities for future development and production.

In parallel, Mitsubishi Motors will leverage its proven expertise in mass-production engineering, quality assurance, durability and safety design, integrated mechatronics control technologies, and factory operations to explore the production of Highlanders’ humanoid robots. The companies will examine the feasibility of commencing production in early 2027 by utilising currently unused buildings at Mitsubishi Motors’ Kyoto Plant.

This is reported to mark the first collaboration of its kind between an automotive manufacturer and a humanoid robotics developer involving mass production. By gaining an operational and manufacturing partner, Highlanders expects to accelerate the growth of both companies’ humanoid robotics businesses.

www.mitsubishi-motors.com