LG Electronics starts in-house assembly of Cloi D robot in Seoul

LG Electronics has started producing its semi-humanoid robot Cloi D in-house at its Yangjae Data Factory in Seoul, according to zdnet.co.kr. The units are being assembled by hand rather than on factory equipment because production has not yet reached the mass-production stage.

LG Electronics plans to place hundreds of Cloi D units into the data factory by the end of this year. The company also intends to internalize actuators and computing chips in order to raise its manufacturing competitiveness.

Actuators account for more than half of humanoid manufacturing cost. LG Electronics built a pilot actuator production line in Changwon in the first half of the year, and in the second half it is preparing for mass production of actuators, including automating equipment and improving quality, while seeking orders from global potential customers.

Until now Cloi D was contract-manufactured by companies including Agibot and Robostar. In the second half of last year, Agibot built about 20 Cloi D units at LG Electronics' request, and in the first half of this year Robostar handled Cloi D production. LG Electronics holds a 33.4% stake in Robostar and has cooperated with the company since 2018, when it acquired the stake.

At CES 2026 early this year, the unveiling of Cloi D was decided suddenly, leaving about six months of preparation time. Agibot is China's top humanoid company, with a 44% share of global humanoid shipments in the first half of this year; LG Electronics invested in it last year together with Mirae Asset Group. LG Innotek is developing robot hands.