GM adds 50 robot arms at Factory Zero as 1,300 workers stay laid off

In short: Car makers are adding more robots to factories, and unions are warning that many jobs could be at risk.

What's going on

General Motors has installed about 50 new robot arms at its Factory Zero electric vehicle plant in Detroit, according to reporting cited by Ars Technica. The robot arms, made by FANUC, are meant to help attach parts during assembly.

The move has drawn criticism from the United Auto Workers (UAW), the main union for US auto workers. UAW Local 22 president James Cotton told The Detroit News that more than 1,000 union members are still laid off “indefinitely,” after GM said layoffs in March would be temporary. The plant also had permanent layoffs of about 1,200 workers in October 2025.

GM is not alone. Other automakers, including Ford and Stellantis, have also been adding more robots to assembly lines. Hyundai has said it plans to use Atlas humanoid robots (human-shaped machines) made by Boston Dynamics at its Georgia EV plant by 2028.

The Ars Technica report also points to the rise of “dark factories,” which are facilities that can run with very few people, almost like a warehouse that works with the lights off (machines do most of the work, and a small crew supervises). FANUC has operated a “lights out” factory since 2001, and Chinese companies like Xiaomi and car brands like Zeekr have built highly automated factories too.

What to watch

The big question is whether US automakers will use robots mainly to help workers, or to replace them. Expect more conflict in union talks, especially as companies chase lower labor costs and faster production, and as workers push for job protections and pay.

Source: Arstechnica