LG Group is quietly laying the groundwork to become a key supplier in the emerging humanoid robotics market, bringing together capabilities across its affiliates to build a comprehensive components ecosystem. Rather than focusing on complete robots, the South Korean conglomerate is aligning its strengths in actuators, sensors, batteries, displays, and AI to offer bundled subsystems—an approach reminiscent of how it operates in automotive and data centre segments. While the strategy is still taking shape internally, it signals LG’s intent to position itself at the core of the robotics value chain.

Betting Big on High-Value Components

At the centre of this push are actuators—critical components that function like muscles in a humanoid robot. These systems account for nearly 40% to 60% of a robot’s total cost, making them one of the most valuable segments in the hardware stack.

LG Electronics is aiming to capture this opportunity with its Axium actuator line. The company expects to have mass-production capacity ready by the end of the year, although external shipments have yet to begin. If successful, this could place LG among a small group of suppliers capable of producing high-precision actuators at scale.

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Batteries, while contributing a smaller share—around 5% of overall costs—play an outsized role in determining a robot’s real-world performance. Humanoids require bursts of high power for movement, balance, and lifting tasks, making energy density and efficiency critical. LG Energy Solution is working on solid-state battery cells tailored for such demands, with plans to develop anode-free versions by 2030. These next-generation batteries are expected to deliver higher energy density within the tight confines of a robot’s structure, particularly in the torso.

Building Toward a Standardised Supply Chain

On the sensing side, LG Innotek has already begun early production of camera, lidar, and radar modules for robotics firms, including Boston Dynamics and Figure AI. However, large-scale manufacturing is still some years away, with the company projecting meaningful output only by 2027 or 2028.

For now, the broader robotics push remains at an early stage. LG Electronics has not yet started supplying actuators externally, and LG Innotek does not expect significant revenue contributions for another three to four years.

Even so, the direction is clear. Humanoid robotics manufacturers today face a fragmented and underdeveloped supply chain, particularly when it comes to scaling high-precision components. LG’s plan to offer integrated subsystems could help bridge that gap.

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By packaging actuators, sensors, and batteries into ready-to-use modules, the company is effectively nudging the industry toward a more standardised, automotive-style supplier model. This could lower entry barriers for new players, reduce costs, and accelerate production timelines.

A Market Still Taking Shape

As the humanoid robotics market evolves, two distinct approaches are emerging. Some companies are building end-to-end systems in-house, while others are likely to rely on specialised suppliers for key components. LG appears to be positioning itself firmly in the latter camp—providing the building blocks rather than the finished product.

With the global humanoid robot market projected to reach nearly $30 billion by 2036, the development of a reliable, scalable parts ecosystem will be critical. LG’s multi-affiliate strategy suggests it intends to play a foundational role in that future, even if commercial returns are still a few years away.