General Motors (GM) has deployed 50 collaborative robots at its Factory Zero assembly plant in Michigan. The company has reportedly eliminated more than 1,000 jobs at the facility for the same reason. The move comes after the automaker laid off more than 600 engineers from its IT division in May, which was more than 10% of the department. The automaker is looking for ways to cut costs and increase manufacturing efficiency, and the move to replace human workers with robots is drawing criticism from labour unions.According to a report by Autoblog, the robots, known as “cobots”, are now working alongside human employees on the production line, assisting with tasks such as attaching body panels to vehicles. The deployment comes as GM faces weaker-than-expected demand for electric vehicles and continues to adjust its manufacturing strategy. Earlier, in October 2025, GM also laid off over 200 Computer-Aided Design (CAD) engineers.
What GM said about replacing human factory workers with robots
Defending the move, GM said the robots are intended to support workers rather than replace them.“We’ve been installing cobots across our manufacturing footprint as part of a broader push to bring more advanced technology into our operations,” GM spokesperson Kevin Kelly told the New York Pos.“At Factory ZERO, we are implementing them alongside our team — helping improve safety and ergonomics, while keeping our operations flexible and competitive,” he said, adding that the affected workers have been temporarily laid off. However, Kelly did not provide a timeline for when those employees might return to work.The deployment of the robots has been criticised by the United Auto Workers (UAW), which argues that the automation effort is reducing opportunities for union workers.“Our manpower is being taken away from us,” said James Cotton, president of UAW Local 22.“From top to bottom, we’re disgusted that they have cobots in our plants,” he added.Cotton also questioned GM’s claims that the technology improves workplace safety and said the union has filed grievances over the installation of the robots.The dispute comes as labour organisations increasingly raise concerns about the impact of automation and artificial intelligence on manufacturing jobs. Responding to GM’s automation push, UAW president Shawn Fain said workers are “in a fight for humanity.”“The fruits of our labour have multiplied like never before, but workers aren’t reaping the harvest. And if AI continues to be used as an accessory to that crime, it has to be stopped — it doesn’t have to be this way — in a just society, when workers create more value, they see more of the benefit,” Fain said.The developments at Factory Zero follow broader workforce changes at GM.“GM is transforming its Information Technology organization to better position the company for the future,” the company said at the time of laying off engineers at its IT division last month.Industry analysts have described similar moves across the technology and automotive sectors as a “skills swap,” where companies reduce traditional IT and software roles while increasing investments in AI-focused talent and automation.The increased use of robots at Factory Zero also comes as GM navigates slowing demand for electric vehicles. The company has paused production at the plant multiple times over the past year as it adjusts output levels. But those challenges didn’t stop GM from reporting first-quarter 2026 profits of $4.25 billion, a 22% increase from the same period a year ago.Automation is sure to be a major talking point in future labour negotiations, with the UAW demanding stronger protections for workers in the 2028 contract negotiations.