Workers in Renault factories, replaced by humanoid robots. The builder wants to reduce production costs by 20%
Car maker Renault has started using humanoid robots in its factories, in a project considered an industry first.
Calvin the humanoid robot PHOTO: X
Calvin is a humanoid robot, developed by the French robotics company Wandercraft, which already works in shifts on the production line of the factory in Douai. It carries tires for electric cars like Scenic and Renault 5, hard work for humans but child's play for a machine, writes Auto Express.
In the next 18 months, it will be joined by 350 more humanoid robots as Renault experiments with AI-trained exoskeletons capable of understanding their surroundings, moving autonomously and selecting different components, says industrial director Thierry Charvet. It also sees possible use in the highly automated body shop, where chassis sections and panels are manufactured.
“I'm not interested in having a humanoid robot, but in having efficient and low-cost automation devices“says the head of the supply chain. The exoskeleton design is more flexible and stable than a wheeled robot, but their biggest drawback is clumsy movements.
“There are no robots to replace humans on the final assembly line, where all the parts are assembled into the car, because they lack speed and dexterity”, says Charvet.
Calvin-40 is the second version of the humanoid. The first was launched in April 2025, but with the help of AI training, Wandercraft doubled the car's speed in six months. Renault sees potential in its industrial application: it has acquired a stake in the robotics company.
The French carmaker plans to cut production costs by 20% over the next five years, aiming to reduce downtime and energy consumption – although Calvin's team won't contribute much to the latter goal.
Will robots take over people's jobs?
All this raises the specter of replacing human labor with mechanization based on artificial intelligence. “Yes, we're changing,” explained Francois Provost, General Manager of the Renault Group. “We discuss this openly with our unions as it is a good way to proceed step by step, avoiding sudden and massive redundancies. This is our way of doing it.”
Renault also pointed out that it has reduced its industrial base by 1.2 million units under the previous Renaulution plan and says the outlook for its factories is stable until 2030.
Renault claims that Calvin's implementation is an industry first, with CEO Provost stating: “Many companies use humanoids for displays at the Consumer Electronics Show, we like to put them to work.”
However, Calvin could be out of commission after his demonstration eclipsed the boss and his fellow board members during the FutureReady strategy presentation.
