While most car manufacturers are moving towards ever-increasing automation, Mercedes-Benz has had to return to a combination of smaller robots and more human workers due to the complexity of the customisation options now required.
The number of customisation options available for the vehicles, from heated cup holders to specific trim, wheels and even tyre valves, has grown to the point where the large robots are not able to cope with the adaptability necessary. This is an area where humans are still more effective than robots.
The automotive industry is currently the largest user of industrial robots, with around 100,000 units shipped worldwide in 2014 according to the International Federation of Robotics (IFR). The total number in operation across the world was 1.5m in 2014 and the IFR expects this to rise by 1.3m by 2018.
Mercedes-Benz' head of production, Markus Schaefer, commented when talking to Bloomberg: "Robots can’t deal with the degree of individualisation and the many variants that we have today. We’re saving money and safeguarding our future by employing more people."
The competition for customers in the luxury car market is leading to the introduction of these increasing customisation options in order to attract those looking for something they can make individual to them.
Schaefer added: "We’re moving away from trying to maximise automation, with people taking a bigger part in industrial processes again. We need to be flexible. The variety is too much to take on for the machines. They can’t work with all the different options and keep pace with changes."
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