Toyota orders workers to train humanoid robots but says humans won't be replaced

Toyota has started using its ELEY humanoid robots on production lines, instructing human workers to teach the machines precise hand tasks by wearing jigs modeled on the robots' fingers. The training fits within Toyota’s broader target of deploying up to 400,000 factory robots across its group, of which 150,000 are intended for its own automotive plants and 250,000 for affiliated companies that make parts and materials.

The company plans to begin investing roughly $6.42 billion annually from 2028 to upgrade factories for this robotic workforce. Toyota has not disclosed how many robots it has deployed so far or how many of the planned units will be humanoid versus other robot types. Historically, the auto industry has relied heavily on industrial robots such as articulated arms and mobile units for material handling.

Hiroki Nakajima, Toyota’s executive vice president, told Nikkei Asia the goal is for robots to coexist with human workers rather than replace them. The automaker employs about 18,000 veteran workers across 60 factories globally, including 11 manufacturing plants in the United States, raising questions about how workflow and job roles may evolve as robotics are expanded.

The push comes amid broad growth in industrial robot adoption worldwide. According to the International Federation of Robotics, China installed roughly 2 million industrial robots in 2024, with Japan second at about 450,500; the United States and South Korea reported 34,200 and 30,600 robots, respectively. Toyota’s investment and deployment plans place it among the major industrial players accelerating automation in manufacturing.