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Honda says its newest car factory in China needs 30% less staff thanks to AI & automation, and its staff of 800 can produce 5 times more cars than the global average for the automotive industry. (self.futurology)

submitted 2 days ago by Lugh to c/futurology

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Bringing manufacturing jobs home has been in the news lately, but it's not the 1950s or even the 1980s anymore. Today's factories need far less humans. Global car sales were 78,000,000 in 2024 and the global automotive workforce was 2,500,000. However, if the global workforce was as efficient as this Honda factory, it could build those cars with only 20% of that workforce.

If something can be done for 20% of the cost, that is probably the direction of travel. Bear in mind too, factories will get even more automated and efficient than today's 2025 Honda factory.

It's not improbable within a few years we will have 100% robot-staffed factories that need no humans at all. Who'll have the money to buy all the cars they make is another question entirely.

Details of the new Honda factory.

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[–] SharkAttak@kbin.melroy.org 25 points 2 days ago

Who'll have the money to buy all the cars they make is another question entirely.

First thing I thought...

[–] Mac@mander.xyz 16 points 2 days ago (1 children)

That means cheaper cars, right?
Right?

[–] Jabril@hexbear.net 4 points 2 days ago

You can get excellent cars in China for cheap, the problem is with other nations tariffing them so much that they end up being expensive once they land on your shores.

[–] KingGordon@lemmy.world 3 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Oh no. Honda reliability about to go into the toilet. I sound sarcastic here but it is actually concerning.

[–] WolfmanEightySix@piefed.social 1 points 2 days ago

Hadn’t thought of this and it’s very true.

[–] WolfmanEightySix@piefed.social 3 points 2 days ago (1 children)

There’s a few Hondas I like…can’t wait for them to be 80% cheaper.

[–] Trihilis@ani.social 7 points 2 days ago (1 children)

I mean, it certainly won't mean more money for the shareholders right?

[–] WolfmanEightySix@piefed.social 4 points 2 days ago

No, they 100% are going to either pay employees more or make cars cheaper. Why would they do anything else?