A headless humanoid robot is now working the production line at Renault’s electric vehicle factory in Douai, France, tasked with bringing tires to the assembly line. The robot, named Calvin-40 and developed by French startup Wandercraft, represents a significant step toward the integration of humanoid robotics into automotive manufacturing, a move also being pursued by automakers including BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Hyundai, and Tesla.
Renault plans to deploy 350 Calvin-40 robots across its facilities in France and Spain within the next 18 months, according to the company. The goal is to reduce production hours per vehicle by 30 percent and overall manufacturing costs by 20 percent over the next five years. The robots are designed for repetitive, physically demanding tasks, and are not intended to replicate complex human movements.
“Honestly, I am not interested in having humanoid robots,” said Thierry Charvet, Renault’s head of production and quality, emphasizing the company’s focus on “efficient and low-cost automation devices, even if they look like humans.” Calvin-40 can lift up to 90 pounds repeatedly without rest, utilizing waist-mounted cameras and LED lights for communication.
Renault’s investment in Wandercraft, totaling $75 million in mid-2025, underscores its commitment to this technology. The Calvin-40 robot was reportedly developed in just 40 days, a testament to the rapid advancements in robotics. This follows an initial version developed in April 2025, with AI training doubling the machine’s speed within six months.
Other automakers are pursuing similar strategies. BMW is piloting humanoid robots at its Leipzig plant in Germany, following a successful test at a U.S. Facility. Mercedes-Benz is testing the Apollo robot, developed by Apptronik, in Kecskemet, Hungary. Hyundai, having acquired Boston Dynamics in 2021, plans to deploy 30,000 Atlas robots in its factories by 2030, beginning in 2028. Hyundai’s push into robotics has reportedly contributed to a 70 percent increase in its stock price over the past year.
Tesla is also heavily invested in humanoid robotics, converting its Fremont, California, facility to produce its Optimus robot. Elon Musk has projected an annual production capacity of one million Optimus robots, though the timeline remains uncertain. Analysts at Bank of America have valued Tesla’s Optimus program at 32 billion euros.
While the market for humanoid robots is currently estimated at 2 to 3 billion euros, projections for 2035 range from 30 to 200 billion euros, with some estimates reaching as high as 1.4 to 1.7 trillion euros. UBS anticipates 2 million humanoid robots in circulation by 2035, increasing to 300 million by 2050.
Despite the growing interest, some automakers remain cautious. Volkswagen is evaluating humanoid robots but believes that replicating the human form isn’t always necessary, preferring to consider AI robotics technology as a whole. Stellantis has yet to publicly detail its plans, with innovation director Anne Laliron stating that further information will be revealed on May 21st during the presentation of the company’s strategic plan.
