Japan Autos & Auto Parts: Japanese automakers‘ interest in humanoid robots appears to be re-emerging

Research evidence excerpt

Japan Autos & Auto Parts: Japanese automakers‘ interest in humanoid robots appears to be re-emerging

10 July 2026

Japan Autos & Auto Parts

Japan Autos & Auto Parts: Japanese automakers' interest in

humanoid robots appears to be re-emerging

Yesterday, Mitsubishi Motors announced that it had entered into an MOU with a Japanese Masahiro Akita

+81 3 6777 6998 startup to jointly develop and mass-produce humanoid robots. As is well known, Japanese

masahiro.akita@bernsteinsg.com automakers have a history of involvement in robotics. As the global automotive market

becomes increasingly challenging, will Japanese automakers step up their efforts in robotics

Tomohiro Kashimoto as an alternative growth engine?

+81 3 6777 6975

tomohiro.kashimoto@bernsteinsg.com

Mitsubishi eyes humanoid robot development and mass production: Mitsubishi

Seunghyeok Kim Motors (MMC, not covered) has signed an MOU (link) with Highlanders, a University of

+81 3 6777 6974 Tokyo spin-off specializing in humanoid robotics, to jointly develop and mass-produce

seunghyeok.kim@bernsteinsg.com humanoid robots based on Highlanders' humanoid robot platform, ‘N’. The partnership

includes plans to deploy robots at MMC’s manufacturing facilities while leveraging the

automaker’s expertise in mass-production and quality assurance. Production is expected at

MMC’s Kyoto plant, utilizing idle factory space, with an initial target capacity of 1,000 units

per month as early as 2027. MMC, which has already invested in Highlanders, also plans to

increase its stake to support commercialization. As investor interest in humanoid robotics

continues to grow, we view the announcement positively for the sector as it signals that

Japanese automakers are taking steps toward cultivating a new mid- to long-term growth