Mercedes-Benz will use a humanoid robot called Apollo to build your next car

Mercedes-Benz has recently entered a commercial agreement with Apptronik, a Texas-based company, to incorporate humanoid robots into its manufacturing processes. The pilot program aims to explore the use of these robots, named Apollo, in logistics to deliver parts to the production line for assembly, while also inspecting components—a move that could potentially revolutionize automotive production.

Standing at 5’8” and weighing 160 lbs, Apollo is touted as the first commercial humanoid robot designed for friendly interaction, mass manufacturability, high payloads, and safety. Jeff Cardenas, the co-founder and CEO of Apptronik, expressed excitement over the partnership with Mercedes-Benz, envisioning a future where robots like Apollo automate low-skill, physically challenging manual labor tasks, setting a precedent for other organizations to follow suit.

Jörg Burzer, overseeing production, quality, and supply chain management at Mercedes-Benz, highlighted the importance of exploring robotics and artificial intelligence to enhance automotive production. By utilizing robots like Apollo, the goal is to support the existing workforce in areas of low-skill, repetitive, and physically demanding work, enabling highly skilled team members to focus on producing top-tier vehicles.