GXO and Apptronik plan rollout of up to 1,000 Apollo humanoid robots from 2027

Logistics company GXO Logistics and humanoid robot maker Apptronik have signed a letter of intent to expand warehouse trials of Apptronik's Apollo robot, with a conditional global rollout of up to 1,000 robots, Robotico reports. The expanded programme begins in 2027, with a first North American deployment targeted for late that year, under a robotics-as-a-service arrangement rather than outright purchases.

The next phase will test Apollo in live distribution centres on tasks such as picking items, moving cartons and containers, preparing packages and sorting inventory, measured against agreed targets for productivity, safety and integration with existing automation and staff. A US pilot earlier in 2026 showed autonomous picking of small consumer products, and the companies have evaluated more than 50 logistics tasks at Apptronik's training facility.

The announcement is not a firm order: 1,000 robots is a maximum target that depends on the robots meeting the agreed requirements, and pricing, committed volumes and sites were not disclosed. GXO separately runs Agility Robotics' Digit humanoids under an earlier agreement.