Mitsubishi to mass-produce humanoid robots

MANILA: Mitsubishi Motors Corporation plans to begin developing and mass-producing humanoid robots at its Kyoto-based manufacturing plant. 

The aforementioned will be made possible by a recently signed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Japanese automaker and Highlanders Incorporated, a tech startup specializing in full-stack humanoid robots. 

In doing so, the two entities will reach a “new industrial foundation,” in which humans can have robots as co-workers. Mitsubishi also stated that it will look into incorporating humanoid robots into its manufacturing plant, resulting in a society where humans and robots work together. 

Per Mitsubishi, the aforementioned is deemed necessary as a new industrial benchmark, as Japan is currently experiencing a significant shift in its manufacturing industry. To be more exact, the country is being challenged by “labor shortages, increasingly sophisticated manufacturing operations,” and the growing need for highly adaptable manufacturing systems. 

Mitsubishi is one of many companies exploring new technologies to combat these challenges. As such, its partnership with Highlanders, which is helping to solve workplace shortages with its robots, is seen by the carmaker as a crucial new partner in the aforementioned endeavor. 

For now, neither Mitsubishi nor Highlanders has published an exact timeline for this robotics initiative, but both hope to start it in early 2027 at the unused buildings in the company’s Kyoto plant. 

As part of their initial steps, however, Mitsubishi will draw on its extensive manufacturing experience and knowledge base to develop methods and systems for producing humanoid robots en masse. 

“Our collaboration with Highlanders represents a challenge aimed at building a new industrial foundation in which humans and robots work together,” Chief Executive Officer of Mitsubishi Motors Corporation Takao Kato said. 

“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,” Kato added. 

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Mitsubishi: other updates

Recently, Mitsubishi Motors Corporation also published its global production report covering January-May 2026. Within the said timeframe, the company has rolled out a total of 388,031 vehicles from its manufacturing plants worldwide. Out of the said figure, 65,645 units were produced globally in May 2026 alone. 

In Thailand, Mitsubishi also rolled out the facelifted version of the current-gen Mirage G4. Known as the “Attrage” in the Land of Smiles, it received a sharper-looking front fascia, together with new advanced driver-assist systems such as forward collision warning, lane-departure warning, and low-speed forward collision mitigation. 

The car brand is also gearing up to introduce the next-generation Pajero (Montero Sport in the local market). As of the moment, though, the brand has yet to show the full vehicle, but several teasers have already been published. 

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