Schaeffler is planning a mid-4-figure humanoid robot fleet by 2035, while cutting jobs now.
This is the kind of investment that changes what a preferred supplier looks like.
Schaeffler is integrating humanoid robots into production at select sites. Infineon has expanded its partnership with Nvidia to build electronics for Physical AI and robot hardware. Marelli has launched an AI tool with AWS to automate test case creation for software-defined vehicle validation.
Large suppliers are not waiting to see what automation delivers. They are building it into their cost base now.
Your customers will expect the same from their supply chain. Approved supplier assessments are already including manufacturing technology criteria. Suppliers without a visible automation position are harder to justify at RFQ stage.
The suppliers moving through this period do this:
Audit one production line this week for automation readiness, and document what you find.
Contact your Tier 1 account manager and ask directly what technology criteria appear in their next supplier review.
Review whether your current investment plan reflects what your customers will expect in 2027.
What is the biggest internal barrier you are facing on automation right now?
Unsure how to position your manufacturing capabilities for the next round of supplier reviews? This is exactly the shift we help Tier 1 and Tier 2 suppliers navigate.