Thousands of unionised Hyundai workers in South Korea have begun partial strikes over the company’s plans to introduce Atlas humanoid robots into its factories. The dispute is significant because it is being described as the car industry’s first factory stoppage specifically linked to humanoid robots, highlighting growing labour concerns that AI-driven automation could reduce jobs, hours and pay.

Workers at Hyundai’s Ulsan complex ended shifts two hours early from 13 to 15 July and planned four-hour strikes from 20 to 22 July after 15 negotiation rounds failed. Hyundai reportedly aims to deploy more than 25,000 Atlas robots across Hyundai and Kia plants, beginning at US factories in 2028; the union, representing more than 39,000 South Korean workers, wants fixed pay, a higher retirement age and larger bonuses. Analysts estimate an Atlas robot could cost about $130,000 and recover that cost within two years, potentially making it far cheaper than human labour.