GoKawiilToyota to deploy 400,000 factory robots by 2028, starts training them with workers
Toyota plans to invest $6.42 billion annually beginning in 2028 to add 150,000 robots at its own auto plants and 250,000 more at group facilities making parts and materials, according to Nikkei Asia. Workers are already helping train Toyota's wheeled ELEY humanoid robots by wearing finger-shaped jigs to teach precise hand movements. Executive vice president Hiroki Nakajima said the goal is for robots to coexist with humans rather than replace them.
GoKawiil's interpretation of the reporting above, not reported fact.
The scale of the rollout—covering a workforce of 18,000 across 60 plants including 11 in the US—suggests automation could reshape day-to-day factory work even if jobs aren't eliminated outright. Toyota's assurance about coexistence is a company statement, not an independent guarantee, so the actual effect on staffing levels remains to be seen. The move also reflects broader industry trends, with Japan already ranking second globally in industrial robot deployment behind China.
- Toyota plans $6.42B in annual investment starting 2028 for robotic factory upgrades.
- Target is 150,000 robots in Toyota plants and 250,000 at group facilities.
- Workers are training humanoid ELEY robots now, but Toyota says humans won't be replaced.
Source: arstechnica.com, 2026-09-22
Published there as: “Toyota orders workers to train humanoid robots but says humans won't be replaced”
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