Mitsubishi Motors and Highlanders Partner on Robotics for Manufacturing

July 9, 2026

Mitsubishi Motors Corporation (MMC) and Highlanders Inc., a robotics startup originating from the University of Tokyo, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish a new industrial framework focused on collaborative work between humans and robots. The partnership will cover both the joint development of humanoid robots for factory use and the mass production of these systems at one of MMC’s key facilities.

Addressing Key Industry Challenges

In its official statement, MMC noted that Japan’s manufacturing sector is facing profound structural shifts. Critical challenges include a shrinking and aging workforce, growing labour shortages, increasingly complex production processes, and the need for more flexible manufacturing systems that can adapt quickly to changing vehicle designs and production volumes.

To overcome these hurdles, MMC has committed to building new capabilities through open innovation, partnering with diverse stakeholders, including universities and startups, to bring advanced technologies into real‑world industrial settings. Highlanders, meanwhile, was founded specifically to solve workforce limitations and operational bottlenecks using humanoid robots and physical artificial intelligence.

Scope of Collaboration

Under the agreement, the two companies will work together on two main fronts:

1. Development and Deployment in Manufacturing

As an initial step, MMC will test and operate Highlanders’ humanoid robots within its own production facilities. By putting the systems to work in actual assembly and logistics environments, the automaker aims to collect operational data, refine performance, and build internal expertise in robotics. This hands‑on experience will help identify which tasks are best suited for automation, as well as how to optimize safety, efficiency, and reliability alongside human workers.

2. Mass Production of Humanoid Robots

In parallel, MMC will contribute its decades‑long expertise in high‑volume manufacturing, quality assurance, durability testing, safety design, and integrated mechatronics control systems. The partners plan to use currently unused buildings at MMC’s Kyoto Plant to set up production lines, with a target to begin commercial manufacturing of the humanoid robots as early as 2027.

MMC describes this as the first collaboration of its kind between an established automotive manufacturer and a humanoid robotics developer that includes full‑scale mass production. The arrangement gives Highlanders access to world‑class production capabilities, while MMC gains a direct stake in the growing robotics industry.

Strategic Investment and Vision

Mitsubishi Motors has already made an initial investment in Highlanders and intends to provide additional funding to support the project as it progresses.

Takao Kato, Chief Executive Officer of MMC, emphasized the broader significance of the alliance: “This partnership is more than just a technology trial; it is an effort to build a new industrial foundation where humans and robots complement each other. Using these robots in our own factories will help us improve productivity, while supporting their production opens up a new business area for us. We expect this collaboration to strengthen our competitiveness and create long‑term value.”

Hiroya Masuoka, Chief Executive Officer of Highlanders, added: “Our goal is to apply robotics and physical AI to solve real‑world problems across industries. Partnering with Mitsubishi Motors allows us to move beyond prototypes and achieve large‑scale production of Japanese‑developed humanoid robots. At the same time, using our systems in MMC’s factories will give us the feedback needed to make them even more capable and practical. This is a major milestone toward our mission.”

Part of a Global Trend

Mitsubishi Motors is not alone in this pursuit. Other major automotive manufacturers, including BMW, are also actively exploring and testing humanoid robots to handle repetitive, strenuous, or high‑precision tasks on assembly lines. As the technology matures, humanoid robots are expected to become a key solution to labour constraints and help factories remain flexible and competitive in the years ahead.