BMW Group, German Vehicle manufacturer, has launched a pilot project at its Leipzig plant, marking the first time humanoid robots have been introduced to its production facilities in Germany.
In their announcement, they shared that the newest addition to the team in Leipzig is AEON, a humanoid robot developed by Hexagon Robotics. With a height of 1.65 meters and weighing 60 kilograms, AEON is designed to navigate the shop floor on wheels at speeds of up to 2.5 meters per second. Unlike traditional industrial robots that remain fixed in one position, AEON features a human-like torso that can be outfitted with various grippers and sensors. Its primary mission is to support human employees by taking over repetitive, ergonomically taxing, and physically demanding tasks, such as delivering materials and assembling high-voltage battery components.
BMW leadership emphasizes that these “physical AI” solutions are intended to augment the workforce rather than replace it, allowing human experts to focus on quality control, process management, and creative problem-solving while robots handle the heavy lifting.
This follows a successful ten-month trial at the company’s Spartanburg site in the United States, where a robot named Figure 02 assisted in the production of over 30,000 BMW X3 vehicles. The expansion into Europe is driven by the new Centre of Competence for Physical AI in Production, which coordinates the integration of artificial intelligence and robotics across BMW’s global manufacturing network.
Following initial laboratory testing, AEON began its operational debut in Leipzig in December 2025, with further integration phases scheduled for April and summer of this year.
