Hyundai workers strike over humanoid robot rollout

Hyundai Motor Group is facing its first major labor strike directly tied to the planned deployment of humanoid robots in its factories, as thousands of unionized workers at its massive Ulsan, South Korea, plant staged a partial walkout this week. The industrial action, which began on July 13 and continued through July 15, marks a historic first in the global auto industry, highlighting rising tensions over automation and job security.

Workers ended their day and night shifts two hours early during the strike period, which union officials said has already curtailed production of an estimated 5,000 vehicles and contributed to significant financial losses. The union, representing over 39,000 employees, voted overwhelmingly in June to authorize strike action after 15 rounds of negotiations with management failed to produce an agreement. Further four-hour walkouts are planned from July 20 through July 22.

At the heart of the dispute is Hyundai's strategy to integrate Atlas humanoid robots, developed by its wholly-owned subsidiary Boston Dynamics, into manufacturing operations. The company announced plans to deploy more than 25,000 Atlas units across Hyundai and Kia facilities...