Hyundai Workers Strike Against 'Army of Robots' in Historic First

Thousands of Hyundai Motor workers in South Korea have launched an unprecedented strike, protesting the company's ambitious plan to integrate over 25,000 advanced humanoid robots into its production lines. This marks the first instance in the global automotive industry where the widespread adoption of artificial intelligence and robotics has directly triggered a factory shutdown.

The conflict escalated after Hyundai Motor Group unveiled its new generation Atlas humanoid robot at CES in January 2026 and announced plans to deploy these units starting in 2028 at its Metaplant America facility in Georgia. The Korean Metal Workers' Union, representing over 39,000 employees, immediately issued a veto against the management's proposal.

Workers initiated protests, including a three-day partial strike at the Ulsan production complex in mid-July. This action disrupted the production schedule for approximately 5,000 vehicles, potentially costing the company up to 200 billion won ($134 million). With negotiations stalled after 15 rounds since May, union members have announced further daily four-hour protests.

Beyond the immediate concern over robot deployment, the union's demands include a significant wage increase, a bonus equivalent to 30% of the company's 2025 net profit, and an extension of the retirement age from 60 to 65. Meanwhile, Hyundai has consolidated its control over robotics technology by acquiring full ownership of Boston Dynamics, the creator of the Atlas robots, from SoftBank Group for $325 million.

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Not a single machine will take up work without a formal agreement.