Mitsubishi Enters the Humanoid Robot Race at 1,000 Units Per Month as Industry Hits Escape Velocity

Mitsubishi Motors partners with Highlanders to mass-produce humanoid robots at an unprecedented pace, as regulators worldwide scramble to address the technology's rapid deployment.

Mitsubishi Motors has announced a partnership with robotics firm Highlanders to mass-produce humanoid robots at a rate of 1,000 units per month, signaling that the industry is accelerating from prototype demonstrations into full-scale manufacturing.

The collaboration centers on Highlanders' flagship "HL Human" platform, a 19-degree-of-freedom (DOF) humanoid equipped with high-output electric actuators that the company claims enable human-like movement. The robot is designed to autonomously perform complex industrial tasks using AI-powered perception, motion planning, and natural-language interaction with human co-workers. Target applications include manufacturing, logistics, construction, and disaster response — all sectors where labor shortages are becoming increasingly severe.

"Our collaboration with Highlanders represents a challenge aimed at building a new industrial foundation in which humans and robots work together," said Takao Kato, chairman and CEO of Mitsubishi Motors. The automotive giant plans to deploy the robots in its own manufacturing facilities while supporting Highlanders' production efforts.

The announcement comes amid a broader regulatory scramble. The FCC recently banned new imports of foreign-made humanoid and quadruped robots over security concerns, while local governments — including a county supervisor in California's Silicon Valley — have begun drafting ordinances to regulate their use. The moves reflect growing unease as humanoid robots transition from science fiction to factory floors at an accelerating clip.

The humanoid robot space is increasingly crowded with the same players that dominate electric vehicles — Tesla, Hyundai, and now Mitsubishi — all racing to build essentially the same product. With Chinese competitor Unitree reportedly pursuing an IPO at a $9 billion valuation, the market is showing signs of the kind of investor enthusiasm that defined the early days of EVs.

Sources: Electrek, ASIS International