German Industrial Giant Schaeffler Pivots to Robotics
German automotive and industrial supplier Schaeffler is outpacing its peers by investing heavily in humanoid robotics. Through a partnership with UK-based Humanoid, Schaeffler is supplying custom components and integrating advanced robotics into industrial facilities. This strategy allows the company to hedge against weakness in the traditional auto sector by capturing new revenue from rising automation demand.
- The partnership plans to deploy hundreds of Humanoid's robots in Schaeffler's production facilities over the next five years, with initial beta-stage deployments starting in 2026 and 2027. Following a validation phase, Humanoid intends to offer its robots under a Robot-as-a-Service (RaaS) model. - Schaeffler will become the preferred supplier of joint actuators for Humanoid's wheeled platform and will co-develop next-generation actuators. This move leverages Schaeffler's expertise in motion technology, producing key components like strain wave gears and planetary gear actuators that are critical for robot performance and durability. - A key aspect of the collaboration is the joint collection of data to train AI models for the robots. They will use teleoperation, synthetic data, and peripheral data to continuously improve robot performance and tailor skills specifically for Schaeffler's manufacturing needs. - This isn't Schaeffler's only robotics venture; the company also partnered with German AI and robotics firm Neura Robotics in November 2025. The goal is to generate up to 10% of company sales, potentially over 3 billion euros, from future-oriented sectors like humanoid robotics and defense by 2035. - The UK-based robotics partner, Humanoid, was founded in 2024 by Artem Sokolov and has grown to over 200 employees with offices in London, Boston, and Vancouver. - Schaeffler is adapting components from its automotive and industrial divisions for the humanoid market, including lightweight XZU angular contact needle bearings and high-performance electric motors originally developed for e-mobility applications. - This partnership is part of a broader industry trend of deploying humanoids in automotive and logistics settings. Other notable collaborations include BMW testing Figure AI's robots, Mercedes-Benz using Apptronik's Apollo, and Amazon deploying Agility Robotics' Digit in its warehouses.
