Mitsubishi Motors Partners with Highlanders to Develop Humanoid Robots

Mitsubishi Motors needs no introduction. The brand has spent decades building cars. But now they are looking beyond cars. And guess what, this automotive company is now eyeing the humanoid robotics industry. Wondering what the reason could be? Well, first things first, in today’s world, a lot of companies, whether automotive or manufacturing, are facing serious labor shortage issues. Moreover, a number of industries are also planning to automate their operations, and for that they are seeking ways for robots and humans to work side by side under one roof. So, in order to meet the growing demand for humanoid robots, Mitsubishi Motors has taken this step. 

The Japanese automaker has partnered with Tokyo-based robotics startup Highlanders Inc. The two companies have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to build together humanoid robots for Mitsubishi’s manufacturing facilities. And along with that, both of these companies are also planning to explore mass production of humanoid robots at the Kyoto Plant as early as 2027.

As per the companies, the partnership, announced on July 9, is being described as the first of its kind. It brings together an automotive manufacturer and a humanoid robotics developer with plans to mass-produce the robots.

As part of the agreement, Mitsubishi Motors will initially deploy Highlanders’ humanoid robots at its own production facilities to collect operational data, build expertise, and evaluate future development opportunities. At the same time, the automaker will use its experience in mass-production engineering, quality assurance, durability and safety design, integrated mechatronics control, and factory operations to assess the feasibility of manufacturing the robots at currently unused buildings within its Kyoto Plant from early 2027.

Mitsubishi has already invested in Highlanders and said it plans to make additional investments as the collaboration progresses.

“Our collaboration with Highlanders represents a challenge aimed at building a new industrial foundation in which humans and robots work together. 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,” said Takao Kato, chairman of the board, representative executive officer and CEO of Mitsubishi Motors.

Highlanders, a University of Tokyo spin-off founded in 2023, develops humanoid robots and Physical AI technologies designed to automate demanding industrial tasks. Earlier this year, the company announced plans to accelerate domestic humanoid robot production and said it expects to reveal details of its latest robot and mass-production roadmap during the summer of 2026.

“At Highlanders, our mission is to address a wide range of industrial challenges through robotics and physical AI technologies. 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. Furthermore, deploying our robotics technologies within Mitsubishi Motors’ manufacturing operations will provide a valuable opportunity to drive technological advancement in our products. By maximizing the value of this collaboration, we look forward to expanding our mutually beneficial relationship with Mitsubishi Motors,” said Hiroya Masuoka, representative director and CEO of Highlanders.

This move by Mitsubishi Motors will prove to be super beneficial for industries and factories in Japan. And the reason is that currently, Japan’s manufacturing sector is facing labor shortages and extremely complex production requirements. However, if these industries start deploying humanoid robots, there will, of course, be a significant improvement in manufacturing efficiency, as well as workers and engineers will be able to gain a better hands-on experience with the emerging technology.