Hyundai's Boston Dynamics Atlas humanoid robot drives 14% stock surge with factory plans

Hyundai and Boston Dynamics Push Humanoid Robots Forward | The Motley Fool

Automakers could be the first big winners from this advancing technology. Hyundai's Boston Dynamics made big news about robots at CES 2026. On Jan. 5, Boston Dynamics unveiled its fully electric humanoid robot called Atlas and said it will begin production immediately. The company said fleets are scheduled to ship to Hyundai's Robotics Metaplant Application Center (RMAC) and Google DeepMind in the coming months. Hyundai said it plans to put Atlas to work across its global network, including at its plant in Savannah, Georgia, starting in 2028. Hyundai's stock price on Korean exchanges went up within a day of the announcement. Investors are excited by the possibility that Hyundai could be making a breakthrough in deploying AI humanoid robots in real-world settings. But is the investor excitement about these robots warranted? Various companies have made big announcements in the past that "the robots are here," but their prognostications haven't always panned out. Let's look at what makes Boston Dynamics' new Atlas humanoid robot so intriguing -- and why investors in robotics stocks might want to stay cautious. Robots in auto factories are nothing new. But Boston Dynamics' Atlas robot is special because it doesn't just look more like a human -- it might soon be able to replace or supplement the work of humans on the Hyundai factory assembly line. Hyundai says the Atlas robot offers the following capabilities: Hyundai plans to build 30,000 robots per year at a U.S. factory, and said it "expects humanoids to become the largest segment of the Physical AI market in the future and has set a goal to mass-produce the Atlas product model, deploying units at scale across industrial sites as production-ready humanoid robots." Hyundai says that starting in 2028, "Atlas will be introduced on processes with proven safety and quality benefits, such as parts sequencing." The company intends to expand the robot's work applications to component assembly, and, "over time, Atlas will also take on tasks involving repetitive motions, heavy loads, and other complex operations -- ensuring safer working environments for factory employees." If Hyundai can successfully build and deploy humanoid robots in its factories, this could also be good news for Toyota (which partners with Boston Dynamics on robotics research projects). Car companies could be the first big winners of the arrival of humanoid robots. But Boston Dynamics is also working on strategic partnerships with Nvidia and Google DeepMind from Alphabet. Humanoid robots are fascinating to watch, because they represent a dream of science fiction come to life. It's possible that Hyundai will crack the code on how to successfully build and deploy humanoid robots at scale in a way that boosts factory productivity. But other companies have tried and failed to introduce useful, profitable robots. The recent history of humanoid robots has included a few overhyped failures and premature declarations of world-changing innovation. In 2014, SoftBank launched a humanoid robot called Pepper that it intended to have interactive conversations with humans and provide customer service. But the robot was criticized for mechanical errors and failing at simple jobs. As of 2021, Pepper was no longer in production. Another humanoid robot called NEO, made by start-up 1X, is intended to help with home chores. But journalists criticized the robot for failing to crack a walnut and needing 2 minutes to fold a sweater -- and the robot isn't autonomous; it's controlled by a human employee with a VR headset. NEO was rated as one of MIT Technology Review's worst technology flops of 2025. Once-promising robot designs can disappoint and disappear. Samsung unveiled a round, yellow robot called Ballie in 2020. Although not a humanoid, Ballie was intended to be a robot home assistant that could adjust smart thermostats and lights, patrol the home, and project video onto walls. But six years later, the Ballie robot was not exhibited at CES 2026, and the company hasn't announced any plans to release it as a product. Bloomberg's reporter at CES 2026 was skeptical of the humanoid robot demos they saw for home use -- saying it took a "painfully" long time to put one item of clothing into a washing machine -- but suggested that "deployment will accelerate more quickly in factories," where robots can learn repetitive tasks in a controlled, predictable environment. We might not have sci-fi style robot housekeepers anytime soon, but research from Morgan Stanley forecasts that the humanoid robot market could reach $5 trillion and more than 1 billion humanoids deployed by 2050, with 90% used for commercial and industrial purposes. Morgan Stanley predicts that adoption of humanoid robots "should be relatively slow until the mid-2030s, accelerating in the late 2030s and 2040s." Investors are understandably excited about robot technology, but the biggest payoffs might not happen for several years. Even if automakers and other manufacturing companies become the first companies to realize big gains from humanoids, it's best for investors to be patient. This complex and unpredictable technology could bring volatility and losses along the way.

Hyundai Motor shares soar on expectations for robotics boom - The Korea Times

Boston Dynamics' Atlas robots are displayed at the Hyundai Motor Group booth during CES 2026 in Las Vegas, Tuesday (local time). Reuters-Yonhap Hyundai Motor shares jumped sharply on Tuesday, buoyed by investor optimism over the automaker's entry into robotics as a physical artificial intelligence (AI) leader, market watchers said Wednesday. Many say the development bolsters expectations that the automaker could emerge as a long-term beneficiary of the rapidly expanding robotics industry, increasingly viewed as a new growth driver for global manufacturers facing softening demand in traditional sectors. According to the Korea Exchange, Hyundai Motor shares closed at 350,500 won ($241), up 13.8 percent from the previous session. Its intraday high peaked at 362,000 won. This was the second straight surge where the auto giant set a 52-week high, following a similar rally a day earlier, when shares climbed to 330,000 won. This coincided with the opening of CES 2026, where Hyundai Motor drew investor attention by showcasing its robotics vision. CES is an annual trade show organized by the Consumer Technology Association. Held in January at the Las Vegas Convention Center, the event typically hosts presentations of new products and technologies in the consumer electronics industry. In particular, the live demonstration of Atlas, a humanoid robot developed by Hyundai Motor subsidiary Boston Dynamics, showcased the company's push into physical AI -- technology that combines AI with robots capable of interacting in the real world. Analysts are rushing to upgrade their outlooks following the demonstration. NH Investment & Securities analyst Ha Neul said that growing market interest in Boston Dynamics' humanoid robots, along with strengthened cooperation with U.S. chipmaker Nvidia, is expected to lift Hyundai Motor's valuation. He raised his target price to 400,000 won, up from the current 330,000 won, citing the company's role in leading the physical AI era. "The rally reflects a broader implication for Hyundai Motor's investment profile. Rather than being valued primarily as an automaker, the firm is increasingly being assessed as a technology-driven mobility and robotics player, a shift that could support higher valuation if properly executed," he said. Still, full commercialization and subsequent profitability remain key challenges. "Despite lingering concerns over when profitability would take shape, the recent strong market development suggests that investors see robotics as more than a distant concept. For Hyundai Motor, CES 2026 is where it has reoriented itself as a contender in the next stage of AI-driven industrial transformation," the analyst said.

Hyundai Motor Shares Rally as Auto Giant Steps Up Robotics, AI Push

Hyundai Motor shares rallied Wednesday, as the South Korean auto giant disclosed plans to step up its robotics and artificial-intelligence push. The stock rose 14% to close at 350,500 won, equivalent to $242.17, the sharpest daily percentage gain in five years, outperforming the benchmark Kospi's 0.6% increase. Shares extended gains for a sixth consecutive session after the South Korean automaker showcased its shift toward AI and robotics at the Consumer Electronics Show currently underway in Las Vegas. "Central to this shift is the formal product launch of the electric Atlas humanoid, supported by a robust manufacturing roadmap and a strategic deep-tech partnership with Google DeepMind," Nomura analysts Angela Hong and Won Kang said in a research note. The carmaker said at CES that it plans to deploy Atlas humanoid robots, developed by unit Boston Dynamics, at its factories by 2028 for simple sequencing tasks and by 2030 for complex assembly work. Hyundai Motor's robotics business is moving beyond research and demonstrations into commercialization, Daiwa Capital analysts Henny Jung and Yoonki Bae said in a note. They cited Hyundai Motor Group's planned annual production of 30,000 Atlas units globally, and stayed positive on the carmaker's partnership with Google DeepMind on AI. "Given HMG's continued demonstration of leadership in physical AI, we expect its valuation gap with global peers to narrow," the Daiwa analysts said. Hyundai Motor Group, which raised its stake in Boston Dynamics to 93% in 2025, is entering the early stages of its equity value accelerating as the robotics unit moves toward commercialization, DAOL Investment & Securities analyst J.W. Yoo said. "Hyundai Motor Group is pursuing a strategy of accelerating its AI transformation through external collaboration," Eugene Investment & Securities analyst Lee Jae-il said. "The narrowing of the technological gap with leading companies like Tesla will serve as the basis for a valuation rerating."