Lee Min-hyung joined The Korea Times in 2014 and has worked as a journalist mainly in Korea’s finance, tech and automotive industry. He specializes in content creation, breaking news and in-depth analysis currently on transportation and mobility. You can reach him via mhlee@koreatimes.co.kr.
CES 2026 Hyundai Motor displays full robot lineup in era of physical AI
Boston Dynamics Atlas robots are displayed in the Hyundai Motor Group booth during CES 2026 in Las Vegas, Tuesday. Reuters-Yonhap
By Lee Min-hyung
Automaker moves to raise global profile with diverse range of intelligent robots
LAS VEGAS — Hyundai Motor Group showcased a full lineup of its latest intelligent robots at the CES 2026 tech fair, offering a clearer picture of how physical artificial intelligence (AI) will reshape daily life and worksites, the automaker said Tuesday (local time).
The company will operate a 1,836-square-meter booth at the Las Vegas Convention Center over four days, showcasing cutting-edge robots including the next-generation Atlas humanoid robot, the four-legged Spot robot dog and the Mobile Eccentric Droid (MobED), an autonomous mobility robot.
The group will showcase two versions of its electric Atlas robot. The Atlas prototype, developed as a research model, features advanced rotational joints and sensors and is capable of navigating complex industrial environments and carrying out repetitive tasks. It also uses AI-driven learning to adapt quickly to new roles.
Hyundai Motor will demonstrate how the robot moves a component from one shelf to another.
The Atlas product model will also be on display. Most of the robot’s joints are fully rotational, and its human-scale hands are equipped with tactile sensors, allowing it to perform a wide range of tasks.
Boston Dynamics' Spot four-legged robots perform at Hyundai Motor Group's booth during CES 2026 in Las Vegas, Tuesday. Courtesy of Hyundai Motor Group
The Atlas electric humanoid robot took center stage at the company’s official media event on Monday, underscoring the automaker’s push into humanoid robotics as it positions them at the forefront of the physical AI era — the convergence of artificial intelligence and hardware.
Spot will also be showcased in live demonstrations at the company’s booth, complemented by an archive exhibit that charts the journey of Hyundai Motor Group’s two flagship robots from early research to real-world deployment.
Visitors to the automaker’s booth will be able to see the MobED self-driving robot in action. Its top modules are interchangeable, allowing Hyundai Motor to highlight a range of use cases, including golf and delivery concepts.
Hyundai Motor Group's Mobile Eccentric Droid (MobED) autonomous driving robots are on display with different upper modules, at the carmaker's booth during CES 2026 in Las Vegas, Tuesday. Courtesy of Hyundai Motor Group
Hyundai Motor Group’s much-touted IONIQ 5 robotaxi is also set to draw strong interest from visitors, with the Level 4 autonomous vehicle capable of operating without a driver.
The vehicle is powered by self-driving technologies jointly developed by Hyundai Motor Group and its autonomous driving arm, Motional. Starting this year, the IONIQ 5 robotaxi will begin operating a ride-hailing service in Las Vegas.
The X-ble Shoulder wearable robot will also be on display at the exhibition, where visitors can try on the industrial device. According to the automaker, workers using the robot can reduce shoulder strain by up to 60 percent when performing repetitive tasks.
“We will offer a tech presentation on Atlas, Spot and MobED each hour at the booth, so visitors can get a deeper understanding of our physical AI vision,” an official from the company said.