A European First

BMW Group announced on February 27 the deployment of humanoid robots at its Leipzig, Germany facility—the first time Physical AI has entered an active European automotive production environment. The robot is AEON, developed by Swiss firm Hexagon Robotics.

AEON Robot Specifications

AEON stands 1.65 meters tall, weighs 60 kilograms, and moves on two wheels. Its modular design allows flexible tool attachment for various production tasks. Initial testing was completed in December 2025; a broader test phase begins April 2026, with a full-scale pilot launching summer 2026.

Application: High-Voltage Battery Assembly

The robot will focus on high-voltage battery production for electric vehicles—work that currently requires workers to wear cumbersome protective equipment. BMW sees the deployment as both a safety improvement and a productivity enhancement.

Built on U.S. Success

BMW's confidence stems from a 2025 pilot at its Spartanburg, South Carolina plant using Figure AI's Figure 02 robot. Over roughly 1,250 operating hours, Figure 02 ran daily 10-hour shifts, moved more than 90,000 components, and supported production of over 30,000 BMW X3 vehicles.

Center of Competence for Physical AI

Alongside the Leipzig announcement, BMW established a Center of Competence for Physical AI in Production to systematically evaluate robotics partners and scale deployments across its global manufacturing network.

Source: BMW Group Press Release

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BMW Deploys AEON Humanoid Robot at Leipzig — Europe's First Automotive Physical AI Pilot