Mitsubishi Motors signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Highlanders, Inc., a University of Tokyo spinout founded in 2023, to jointly develop and mass-produce AI-powered humanoid robots. The partnership will repurpose Mitsubishi’s Kyoto car plant for robot assembly, targeting production of up to 1,000 units per month by early 2027. This marks the first time an automotive manufacturer has committed to producing humanoid robots using existing manufacturing infrastructure. The initiative aims to address Japan’s shrinking workforce due to an aging population and declining birth rates, specifically filling gaps on Mitsubishi’s own factory floor and preserving institutional knowledge from retiring employees. Highlanders provides the robotics IP and AI expertise, while Mitsubishi contributes large-scale manufacturing operations. No specific robot models or detailed technical specifications have been disclosed yet, but the robots are being designed for manufacturing environments, focusing on dexterity, reliability, and safety.