Automotive Industry

AI and Robotics are Changing the Game

The automotive industry is undergoing a profound and rapid transformation. Artificial intelligence, humanoid robotics, digital simulation, virtual factories: technologies that still seemed futuristic ten years ago are becoming concrete production tools. And this technological revolution leaves no room for laggards.

On the side of established manufacturers, things are moving, but the challenge is immense. Faced with a China that is starting from a clean slate with brand new factories, ultra-digitalized methods, and native robotization, groups like Mercedes, GM, or BMW must rethink their fundamentals. It is no longer a matter of improving the existing, but of reinventing themselves.

Mercedes Banks on Humanoids

Mercedes recently announced its investment in Apptronik, a Texas-based company specializing in humanoid robots, injecting several million euros into a $403 million funding round. This partnership is giving rise to concrete experiments at the Berlin-Marienfelde site, transformed into a digital campus where the production of the future is being tested.

The Apollo robot, developed by Apptronik, is 1.73 meters tall and weighs 72 kg, can carry up to 25 kg, and operates for four hours on a battery. But beyond its physical characteristics, it is its embedded intelligence that attracts Mercedes. Capable of navigating the factory, Apollo transports parts, assists operators on assembly lines, and performs quality checks. Thanks to AI, augmented reality, and teleoperation, human teams teach it the movements it can then reproduce autonomously.

The goal? To replace repetitive, physical, or dangerous tasks, while streamlining human-machine interaction. Ultimately, Mercedes plans a global deployment, including in Europe and the United States. According to Jörg Burzer, a member of the Board of Management, this collaboration sets "new standards for efficiency, safety, and collaboration in factories."

GM and Nvidia: Virtual Factories to Complete Autonomy

General Motors is following a different path, partnering with Nvidia to digitize all of its operations. Their collaboration aims to integrate artificial intelligence at all levels: vehicle design, factory automation, and the development of autonomous driving solutions.

Thanks to the Nvidia Omniverse platform, GM is creating digital twins of its factories. The objective: to test new processes without interrupting production, optimize existing robotics, and accelerate innovation cycles. On the vehicle side, Nvidia Drive AGX technology will be used to enhance the in-house ADAS (Super Cruise) and prepare for the arrival of fully autonomous vehicles.

Mary Barra, CEO of GM, summarized it this way: "By merging technology with human ingenuity, we unlock new levels of innovation."

Change or Get Out of the Game

The message is clear: the automotive industry is no longer just about building cars. It is designing complex ecosystems where AI pilots factories, robots collaborate with humans, and vehicles self-train in real time. China, with its agile startups and modern infrastructure, has understood this well. So has Tesla.

For traditional manufacturers, the turn is tight. Reinventing production methods sometimes frozen for decades, while integrating disruptive technologies, requires courage, resources, but above all a clear vision. Remaining competitive in this new era will not be a question of size or history, but of the ability to break the mold and embrace a new industrial logic.

At WOT, we are observing this transformation with attention, because it is reshuffling the cards. The time when a brand could dominate thanks to its heritage is over. Today, only those who dare to transform profoundly will remain in the race.