BMW Spartanburg: Figure 03 humanoid robot moves from the body shop to logistics
www.press.bmwgroup.com
After the Figure 02 pilot that helped build over 30,000 X3 crossovers, BMW is bringing the upgraded Figure 03 to its US plant for a new logistics sequencing job.
BMW Group is expanding its Physical AI push — the brand’s term for artificial intelligence tied to real machines and robots. According to the company’s press release, the next stage of its Figure AI project is launching at BMW Plant Spartanburg in the United States: the humanoid Figure 03 robot will now take on logistics tasks.
BMW had already trialled the Figure 02 robot at the same plant. According to the carmaker, in 2025 the robot spent ten months supporting the production of more than 30,000 BMW X3 crossovers: in the body shop it loaded sheet-metal parts into fixtures ahead of welding. BMW says the pilot proved that humanoid robots can operate safely in a live manufacturing environment.
This time Figure 03 gets a tougher assignment. Parts will arrive in large, unsorted containers, and the robot has to pick them up and place them onto a trolley in the right sequence. The kitted components are then moved to the assembly area by an automated tugger train or a Smart Transport Robot. In effect, BMW is testing whether humanoid robots can handle not only precise shop-floor operations but also the routine job of preparing parts for the line.
Among the features advertised on Figure 03 are soft body elements for added safety, wireless charging, upgraded hands with tactile sensors, and palm-mounted cameras. The robot also supports audio for voice interaction. BMW stresses that humanoids should complement existing automation, especially in monotonous, physically demanding tasks or those with elevated safety requirements.
