Logistics Giant Bets Big on Humanoids: GXO Plans to Deploy 1,000 Apollo Robots

GXO Logistics, a major global logistics provider, has signed a letter of intent to significantly expand its partnership with robotics startup Apptronik. The ambitious plan aims to deploy up to 1,000 Apollo humanoid robots in warehouses over the next four years, scaling from initial joint trials. The robots are designed with an expressive LED face and speech capabilities to facilitate more natural human-robot collaboration in tasks like picking, packing, and moving goods.

The rollout, set to begin in North America in late 2027, is contingent on meeting strict safety, security, and performance targets in live operations. This represents one of the largest and most concrete commitments to scaling humanoid robots in a real-world industrial setting. It signals a major step toward integrating physical AI into mainstream logistics, moving beyond prototypes to measured, operational deployment alongside human workers and existing automation.