Toyota plans to deploy 400,000 humanoid robots in factories from 2028
English translation from Unibot. Source published 2026-09-22.
Toyota is going to put humanoid robots on the assembly line. According to Just Auto, from 2028 the company plans to use them in all its factories around the world - up to 400,000 robots.
They will work side by side with people, in the same production areas.
Scale and caution of estimates
True, the scale should be treated with caution. Just Auto refers to some local publications, but does not name them or provide a detailed document about Toyota's plans.
The publication writes that from 2028 the company intends to invest 1 trillion yen annually - according to Just Auto’s calculations, this is $6.4 billion.
How robots will be distributed
The deployment will reportedly begin with approximately 150 thousand robots at Toyota's main factories. Another 250 thousand will be distributed across the group’s 60 production sites around the world.
The installation will coincide with the ongoing modernization of factories, the launch of new models and the expansion of capacity.
ELEY is a wheeled platform for the plant
The fleet will also include Toyota's own development - ELEY, which stands for Embodied Learning robot for Enhanced Yield. Just Auto describes it as a humanoid robot on wheels, battery-powered and weighing around 50kg.
ELEY, according to the publication, teaches factory operations: taking parts out of boxes and putting them where they need to be. Another task is folding fabrics.
Robots are now mastering the movements and processes performed by line workers. But the level of autonomy and the method of collecting demonstrations are not specified in the report.
Data and employee training
Toyota plans to centralize the data obtained and use it to program other robots. The company is also allowing for an environment where robots can train new employees.
Toyota said: “Robots are not intended to replace people, they will coexist with people.”
A loud statement with a vague evidence base
The figure of 400 thousand units is the most significant statement of the report and at the same time the weakest supported. Just Auto does not provide interim targets, a production plan or a breakdown of costs between hardware, plant integration and support systems.
By the way, the wheelbase takes ELEY beyond the narrow definition of a bipedal humanoid robot - although both the publication and Toyota materials call it a humanoid.
The report does not contain battery life, payload capacity, dimensions, safety requirements, or a detailed description of the upper body. And without these details, it is simply impossible to judge whether ELEY will be able to work productively in general factory premises on the declared scale.