Mitsubishi Motors Corporation and Highlanders, Inc., a startup originating from the University of Tokyo, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on July 9 to work toward “establishing a new industrial foundation where humans and robots work together.” The two companies plan to deploy humanoid robots at Mitsubishi Motors’ own manufacturing facilities, accumulating operational know-how and technical data, while leveraging Mitsubishi Motors’ expertise in mass-production engineering and production management to pursue the mass production of humanoid robots developed by Highlanders.

According to our research*, the global humanoid robot market reached 16,580 units in 2025 on a manufacturer shipment basis, representing year-on-year growth of 647.9%. China overwhelmingly dominated the market, accounting for 84.8% of shipments, followed by Europe and the Americas at 7.4% and 5.9%, respectively. Japan accounted for just 0.5%. Backed by strong government financial support, China was quick to establish mass-production technologies, and more than 200 startups have already entered the market. Consumer and home-use markets featuring lower-priced products are also beginning to emerge. Combining the high-specification industrial market with the lower-priced consumer market, the global market is expected to reach 7.18 million units by 2035, representing an astonishing compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 83.5% over this period.

Autonomous humanoid robots can address a wide range of needs, from manufacturing to the service sector, including alleviating labor shortages, improving productivity, and freeing people from dangerous tasks. The ultimate application, however, may be in the military. In February this year, U.S. startup Foundation Future Industries conducted field trials of its humanoid robots in Ukraine for logistics and reconnaissance missions. The company has also expressed an interest in experimenting with armed bipedal robots. In Ukraine, autonomous unmanned machines equipped with AI that can identify and attack targets are already being deployed in actual combat. Before long, we may face the nightmare of humanoid robot units equipped with physical AI driving people from their homes and communities.

By the way, did you know that the word “robot” originated from R.U.R., a play written by Czech writer Karel Čapek in 1920? The story begins with a factory that manufactures “robots,” an inexhaustible source of labor. Humans were supposed to become happy once they were freed from all forms of labor. But before long, fewer and fewer children are born around the world. Then the robots revolt…

I will say no more, as anything further would be a spoiler. If this has piqued your interest, I encourage you to read the play for yourself. The new Japanese translation Robot R.U.R., translated by Kenichi Abe and published by Chuko Bunko, also includes an essay by Čapek titled “The Rule of Machines,” originally published in the Japanese magazine Gendai (No. 6, 1929). In it, he writes, in essence, that “the relationship between humans and machines depends on what kind of relationships humans build with one another.” A century ago, he had remarkably foreseen the future.

*Based on Global Humanoid Robot Market 2026, published by Yano Research Institute Ltd. on March 30, 2026.
 

Takashi Mizukoshi, the President
This Week’s Focus, August 2 – August 6, 2026