Humanoid signs major deal to deploy wheeled robots at Schaeffler factories

Dubai: British startup Humanoid has signed an agreement with German automotive and industrial supplier Schaeffler to deploy thousands of wheeled humanoid robots across its global manufacturing facilities, marking a significant step toward the commercial adoption of AI-powered robotics. The deal, announced on Wednesday, comes just two years after Humanoid’s founding and highlights how advanced robotics are moving beyond pilot programmes into full-scale industrial use. The first systems are expected to go live at two Schaeffler sites in Germany before the end of 2026, initiating an initial deployment phase that will run through June 2027. At the Herzogenaurach facility, robots will focus on box handling in a live production environment, while systems at Schweinfurt will undergo joint testing ahead of full-scale validation. Under the agreement, thousands of wheeled humanoid robots are targeted for deployment by 2032. The partnership is structured under a robot-as-a-service model, with Humanoid providing fleet management, software, maintenance, technical support, and performance management alongside the robotic systems. The collaboration also includes a supply arrangement, with Humanoid set to purchase actuators from Schaeffler. These components will cover more than half of Humanoid’s demand for wheel-based actuators through 2031, translating into millions of units over the duration of the partnership. The agreement builds on an earlier partnership announced in January following successful proof-of-concept trials. Founded in 2024, Humanoid introduced its first industrial robot, the wheeled HMND 01 Alpha, in September 2025. The company has since expanded its collaborations, including a partnership with Siemens in April to deploy NVIDIA-powered HMND 01 robots for logistics operations at Siemens’ Erlangen factory. While humanoid robotics accounted for less than 1 percent of Schaeffler’s total sales in 2025, the company is betting on strong future growth in the sector to support its business and mitigate volatility in the automotive market. Schaeffler has also been active in expanding its robotics capabilities, having partnered with Neura Robotics in November 2025 to jointly develop and supply key components for humanoid systems.