Rise of Robots Pits Hyundai’s Atlas Against Musk’s Optimus

The Atlas Prototype at the Hyundai presentation during the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas on Jan. 5.Photographer: Travis P Ball/Sipa USA/AP Photo

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By Hyonhee Shin

February 26, 2026 at 9:00 PM UTC

Updated on

February 27, 2026 at 4:13 AM UTC

As Hyundai Motor Co. Executive Chair Euisun Chung took the stage at CES 2022 accompanied by “Spot” — a robot dog — a voice from the audience asked how long it would be before the company dropped “Motor” from its name.

That time could be now.