German automobile manufacturer Mercedes-Benz is currently testing humanoid robots from American robotics company Apptronik in its factories. These robots are utilized for tasks ranging from moving parts to the production line to quality inspection. Mercedes-Benz has invested millions of euros in Apptronik, aiming to address labor shortages by employing robots to handle repetitive tasks and eventually test them in hazardous environments.
Apptronik is competing with companies like Tesla (TSLA, Financial) and Figure AI, which is backed by NVIDIA (NVDA), in the field of humanoid robotics. The aim is to revolutionize factory operations and improve efficiency amid the growing challenges in labor supply.
