Mitsubishi Motors and Highlanders explore humanoid production at Kyoto plant
The automaker will evaluate humanoids in its own factories while studying production in unused Kyoto buildings from early 2027.
Mitsubishi Motors and Highlanders signed an MoU on 9 July 2026 covering humanoid development for automotive factories and possible robot production at Mitsubishi’s Kyoto Plant. The partners will assess whether unused buildings can support manufacturing from early 2027. Mitsubishi has already invested in Highlanders and intends to make further investments.
Mitsubishi plans to use humanoids in its own facilities to collect operational data and develop deployment know-how. Its contribution to the proposed production programme includes mass-production engineering, quality assurance, durability and safety design, integrated mechatronics control and factory operations. The agreement puts prospective factory applications and robot manufacturing within the same development programme, with the production timetable subject to the feasibility assessment.
Highlanders had disclosed Mitsubishi’s investment in May, when it began publicising a domestic humanoid manufacturing initiative and targeted a summer release of product and production plans. It was working with manufacturers on Japanese sourcing for motors and other core components, alongside trials involving outdoor terrain, heavy-load transport, inspection and remote operation. Founded in 2023 from the University of Tokyo, Highlanders develops humanoids, quadrupeds and robot simulators, with an R&D factory in Higashi-Tokorozawa, Saitama. The July agreement identifies Kyoto as a potential manufacturing site alongside that existing development base.