Watch: BMW's New Humanoid Robots Can Pull Carts, Sort Parts And Work Without Human Control

German automaker BMW has showcased its latest collaboration with robotics startup Figure AI, revealing humanoid robots that can walk, sort components, pull heavy trolleys and recharge themselves, all without direct human control, all of which once sounded like science fiction. Today, it's becoming an everyday reality. Here's to knowing everything about BMW's newest factory workers and how these AI-powered robots are changing modern manufacturing.Figure 03: Robots Can Sort Parts And Move Around IndependentlyBMW recently shared a video from its Spartanburg manufacturing plant in the United States, where four Figure 03 humanoid robots can be seen carrying out real production tasks. The robots don't simply stand at fixed workstations. Instead, they

move around the factory much like human workers.In one demonstration, a Figure 03 robot walks toward a trolley, pulls it across the factory floor and begins collecting components from unsorted containers. It identifies different parts, separates them and neatly places them into the trolley before returning to its charging station once the task is complete.

According to Figure AI, the entire process is powered by its proprietary Helix 02 AI system. The software coordinates the robot's hands, arms, legs and torso, allowing it to perform complex actions while continuously adjusting its body position. Unlike traditional industrial robots that repeat the same programmed motion, Figure 03 is designed to adapt because parts, bins and carts rarely arrive in exactly the same position every time.BMW Expanding Use Of Humanoid RobotsThis isn't BMW's first partnership with Figure AI. The Mercedes rival says the earlier Figure 02 robots helped build around 30,000 BMW X3 SUVs over a ten-month period in 2025. Those robots primarily handled repetitive manufacturing tasks such as loading sheet metal for welding.The company says the new Figure 03 represents a major leap forward. Besides lifting and sorting parts, the robots can switch between different objects, reposition heavy carts and react to changing environments without relying on fixed movement patterns.The robotics startup has attracted quite massive attention in recent months after its Figure 03 robot competed against a human intern in an eight-hour package-sorting challenge. Figure AI also claims it now has more robots than human employees.