Mitsubishi eyes AI robot boom

By the Editorial Team · Monday, July 27, 2026

Mitsubishi Motors has partnered with Tokyo-based startup Highlanders Inc. to develop and mass-produce AI-equipped humanoid robots, targeting a production rate of 1,000 units per month by the end of 2027. This collaboration aims to tackle labor shortages in manufacturing by deploying these robots initially on Mitsubishi’s engine production line in Kyoto, positioning Japan as a leader in commercial-scale humanoid robot production.

Mitsubishi Motors Corporation has announced a partnership with Tokyo-based startup Highlanders Inc. to develop and mass-produce humanoid robots equipped with artificial intelligence, aiming to manufacture 1,000 units per month by the end of 2027. The collaboration seeks to address growing labor shortages by leveraging Mitsubishi’s advanced manufacturing expertise alongside Highlanders’ robotics technology.

The initiative will begin with the deployment of these AI-driven humanoid robots on an engine manufacturing line at Mitsubishi’s factory in Kyoto, western Japan. This deployment will serve as a testing ground to gather data essential for refining the robots’ design and operational capabilities specifically for use in automobile production.

While companies in the United States and China have been advancing humanoid robot development, Mitsubishi’s CEO Takao Kato emphasized Japan’s leading role in the commercial-scale production of such robots. “In Japan, we are the ‘leadoff hitter’ in mass producing” humanoid robots, Kato said at a press conference held in Tokyo. He noted that the company is actively considering practical applications for the robots while continuously evaluating their performance.

Highlanders Inc., founded as a spin-off from the University of Tokyo, focuses on developing general-purpose robots using primarily domestically sourced components. Highlanders CEO Hiroya Masuoka highlighted the company’s ambition to compete in the global arena of physical AI, which he described as the integration of robotics with artificial intelligence. “There is no company (in Japan) that can compete with global companies in the realm of physical AI,” Masuoka said during the event, expressing the desire to advance Japan’s position in this field.

Together, Mitsubishi Motors and Highlanders aim to harness Japan’s manufacturing capabilities to establish a foothold in the emerging market for AI-enhanced humanoid robotics, which analysts see as a potential solution for addressing workforce constraints across various industries.

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