European Car Manufacturer to Pilot Sanctuary AI's Humanoid Robot Technology

Sanctuary AI has announced plans to deliver its humanoid robot to a Magna manufacturing facility. Based in Canada, Magna operates auto manufacturing sites in Austria and produces vehicles for several leading European automakers, including Mercedes, Jaguar, and BMW. As is common in such agreements, the exact number of Sanctuary AI robots to be deployed has not been disclosed.

This announcement comes on the heels of similar initiatives by Figure and Apptronik, which are testing their humanoid systems with BMW and Mercedes, respectively. Additionally, Agility reached an agreement with Ford at CES in January 2020, focusing on the use of their Digit robots for last-mile deliveries, although they have since shifted their attention towards warehouse deployments with partners like Amazon.

Magna previously invested in Sanctuary AI in 2021, coinciding with Elon Musk’s announcement of plans to create a humanoid robot for Tesla factories, later named “Optimus.” In May of last year, Sanctuary unveiled its own humanoid model, Phoenix. Standing at 5’7” and weighing 155 pounds, Phoenix represents a significant advancement, being the first Sanctuary humanoid designed to walk on legs, even though most available footage primarily showcases its torso. The company is also concentrating on developing dexterous hands, an essential feature for expanding the robot's capabilities beyond basic mobility.

Sanctuary describes the pilot program as “a multi-disciplinary assessment aimed at enhancing the cost-effectiveness and scalability of robots utilizing Magna’s automotive product portfolio, engineering, and manufacturing expertise, alongside a strategic equity investment by Magna.”

In summary, while this pilot marks an important step, it should be viewed as a preliminary assessment rather than a full endorsement of the technology. The ultimate validation will hinge on whether Magna achieves the desired return on investment (ROI) from the collaboration. Specific details about the number of robots, the duration of the pilot, or the exact factory location have not been revealed.