In a milestone for commercial humanoid robots, startup Figure AI has secured an agreement with BMW to test its dexterous 01 model at the automaker's South Carolina manufacturing hub. Figure will spend 2023 identifying potential applications before deploying units in late 2024.

The partnership marks growing openness of major corporations to evaluate emerging humanoids for enterprise roles. It also validates Figure just two years since its founding and months after first demonstrating locomotion capabilities.

Figure CEO Brett Adcock envisions starting with logistics tasks like manipulating boxes and bins inside BMW’s 8 million square foot body assembly plant. Successful pilots could then expand the humanoids' duties and presence across the 11,000 employee facility producing various Sports Activity Vehicle models.

"A humanoid can manipulate varying objects, at times necessitating two hands rather than a gripper," noted BMW. "They offer wider ambidexterity and mobility than traditional robots - potentially easing ergonomic challenges."

While not revealing figures, BMW confirmed "one robot for initial technical assessment" with more possible pending performance outcomes. But having extensively deployed robotics elsewhere, the automaker sees long-term value if Figure's technology proves capable.

Figure arrives at BMW's Spartanburg, SC plant with an impressive pedigree despite its youth. The startup snagged nearly $80 million to date and leading minds like roboticist Dr. Jerry Pratt. It also seems to lead rival pioneer Agility Robotics in securing an inaugural commercial customer.

Agility landed notable Amazon and GXO pilots in late 2023 involving modest warehouse transportation roles for its bipedal Digit. But Figure now looks to introduce its solution's manual skills for production environments.

"It's an interesting time for humanoids with major groups validating the space," commented Adcock. "We'll soon have units doing reliable, useful tasks daily - walking, picking, communicating."

He expects exponential progress breaking through historical walls limiting commercial viability. But Figure must first meet key metrics at BMW around hourly and daily capacity across months of operation.

So while adoption horizons remain uncertain, Figure's agreement represents a significant early stake. As BMW noted, innovators able to tap emerging technologies often gain advantage in automotive's rapidly evolving industry.