Leipzig, Germany – June 12th, 2026 – BMW Group and Hexagon Robotics have reached a new milestone in their collaboration as AEON, Hexagon Robotics’ humanoid robot, begins performing production tasks within BMW Group Plant Leipzig while simultaneously being trained on future manufacturing applications.
“Humanoid robotics is entering a new phase," said Arnaud Robert, President of Hexagon Robotics. "The question is no longer whether these systems can operate in manufacturing environments, but how quickly they can become productive, versatile, and scalable. Our partnership with BMW, and the progressive rollout at the Leipzig plant, is enabling us to demonstrate the value of humanoids in the real world.”
The next phase of the collaboration will focus on increasing autonomy, robustness, and operational performance. Battery assembly activities are also expected to move from the Innovation Garage into the factory environment as part of future pilot activities.
The collaboration reflects a broader trend towards the adoption of humanoid robotics in industrial environments. According to Hexagon’s global Robot Generation study, people overwhelmingly favour the use of robots in factories, warehouses, and hazardous environments, while preferring human involvement in caregiving and education. The findings suggest strong public support for robots performing physically demanding industrial tasks when deployed with appropriate governance and safety measures.
Looking ahead, BMW Group and Hexagon Robotics are continuing to build the path from pilot systems to production-ready humanoid workforce solutions. AEON will be deployed in production by the end of 2026, marking an important step towards the next generation of manufacturing automation.
Photos: ©BMW AG