Mobile robots in car manufacturing: what Stellantis and Renault learned in France
August 18, 2026 · 7 min read
Mobile robots in car manufacturing are no longer pilot projects in France: Stellantis operates 43 MiR robots in Caen for around 1,000 missions a day, and Renault Group runs its spare-parts logistics in Villeroy with 191 Skypod robots from Exotec (source: mobile-industrial-robots.com; cio-online.com). These two documented cases show a gradual automation of internal flows, not an abrupt replacement of teams. This article details what is publicly known about these rollouts and what an SME or mid-sized company can take away from them.
French automotive: pioneering ground for mobile robotics
The French automotive industry employs 329,000 people and accounts for 1.1% of GDP (source: Insee; DGE, 2024 portrait). It is a sector historically organised around just-in-time, kanban and the milk-run (the "little train" that resupplies workstations) — methods that were already laying the groundwork for automating internal flows well before mobile robots arrived.
This culture explains why the automotive industry was among the first to trial mobile robots at scale in manufacturing. In Sochaux, for example, Stellantis deployed AGVs and "butlers" as part of the full kitting process at its new plant (source: francebleu.fr). Two other sites, Caen for Stellantis and Villeroy for Renault Group, have released more precise figures on their mobile-robot rollouts, making it possible to document concrete cases rather than general announcements.
Stellantis Caen: 43 mobile robots serving internal flows
The context behind the rollout
The Stellantis site in Caen has integrated a fleet of 43 MiR robots (Mobile Industrial Robots) to handle part of its internal logistics flows. These robots run 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and carry out around 1,000 missions per day on site (source: mobile-industrial-robots.com/fr/cas/stellantis-caen).
The published case places this rollout within a long-term trajectory: Stellantis Caen has set a goal of fully automating its internal flows by 2030. The public data available does not detail the precise nature of each mission (types of loads carried, workstations served, quantified productivity gains) or the intermediate timeline for scaling up between the initial rollout and this 2030 target.
What can be taken from this
The published volume — 43 robots for around 1,000 daily missions — points to a fleet engaged in frequent back-and-forth trips rather than long, isolated missions, consistent with a logic of repetitive internal flows (shuttle-type or milk-run) rather than one-off transport. Round-the-clock operation also indicates integration into the production rhythm, not a stopgap use limited to certain time slots. Neither the breakdown of missions per robot nor their average duration is publicly detailed.
Renault Villeroy: 191 Skypod robots to manage spare parts
The context behind the rollout
The Renault Villeroy site manages Renault Group's spare-parts logistics with 191 Skypod robots from Exotec, combined with an AI-driven system. According to the public source available, this rollout cut processing time sixfold and absorbed a 25% increase in order volume (source: cio-online.com/actualites/lire-191-robots-et-de-l-ia-pour-piloter-les-pieces-detachees-de-renault-group-15704.html).
Skypod robots are goods-to-person storage and picking robots: they move within a dedicated racking structure to bring parts bins to operators, rather than the other way around. This operating principle differs from that of the Stellantis Caen MiR robots, which are load-carrying robots moving on the floor in an environment shared with staff.
What can be taken from this
The two figures cited — processing time cut sixfold and +25% orders processed — describe a gain in throughput and absorption capacity rather than a simple headcount reduction. The available source does not specify the exact date of full commissioning, the number of employees involved, or the financial return on investment of the project: these points cannot therefore be stated beyond what has been published.
Mobile robots in car manufacturing: comparison table of the two cases
| Criterion | Stellantis Caen | Renault Villeroy |
|---|---|---|
| Robot type | 43 MiR robots (transport AMR) | 191 Exotec Skypod robots (goods-to-person, + AI) |
| Function | Internal logistics flows | Spare-parts management |
| Pace | 24/7, ~1,000 missions/day | Not publicly specified |
| Documented result | Goal of fully automating internal flows by 2030 | Processing time ÷6, +25% orders |
| Source | mobile-industrial-robots.com | cio-online.com |
Mobile robots in car manufacturing: what lessons for SMEs and mid-sized companies?
A gradual rollout, not a big bang
In both documented cases, automation does not replace all flows at once: Stellantis Caen is targeting 2030 for full automation, which means that in 2026 the site still runs on a mix of robots and non-automated flows. For an SME or mid-sized company, this point translates directly: starting with a well-identified, repetitive flow (such as a line-side milk-run) rather than a full-site switchover is an approach consistent with what is observed at both plants.
Repetitive, high-frequency flows
The 24/7 pace and mission volume at Stellantis Caen, like the throughput gain at Renault Villeroy, involve high-frequency flows — exactly the type of task where a mobile robot adds the most value by cutting empty runs and waiting times. An industrial or logistics company that identifies its own repetitive flows (stockroom to line-side, dock to storage) has a comparable starting point for assessing the case for a mobile robot.
Team acceptance: an issue to plan for ahead of time
The sources available for these two cases do not detail the precise change-management measures on the team side (training, role reorganisation, operator feedback). This documentary silence does not allow us to say whether acceptance was easy or difficult; it does, however, suggest that any company embarking on a similar project should address this aspect upfront, with support from its works council (CSE) and, for safety matters, its Carsat.
ROI remains specific to each site
Neither case publishes a consolidated financial return on investment (total rollout cost, payback period). The only documented operational results are the mission volume for Stellantis Caen and the throughput gains for Renault Villeroy. For an SME or mid-sized company considering a mobile robot, this is a reminder that ROI must be calculated case by case, based on its own flows, not by extrapolating from a large-scale industrial case.
FAQ
How many mobile robots does Stellantis use in Caen?
The Stellantis site in Caen operates 43 MiR robots, which carry out around 1,000 missions per day running continuously 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Stellantis has stated a goal of fully automating the site's internal logistics flows by 2030 (source: mobile-industrial-robots.com).
What do Renault Villeroy's 191 Skypod robots do?
Exotec's 191 Skypod robots, combined with AI-driven control, manage spare parts for the Renault Group at the Villeroy site. According to the public source, this setup cut processing time sixfold and absorbed a 25% increase in the number of orders processed.
Do mobile robots replace forklift operators in the automotive industry?
The Stellantis Caen and Renault Villeroy cases document gains in volume and throughput, not publicly quantified job cuts. These are robots dedicated to repetitive internal flows that add to the existing organisation rather than a documented full replacement of logistics teams at these two specific sites.
Can an SME draw inspiration from the Stellantis and Renault cases?
Yes, for the method: start by targeting a repetitive, frequent flow, such as a line-side milk-run. No, for the scale: both cases involve large industrial sites with dozens or even hundreds of robots. An SME typically starts with a smaller-scale deployment, sized to its own flows.
Related reading
- Automated milk-run: robotising the line-side "little train", the resupply method at the heart of automotive flows, transposable to other sectors.
- AGV vs AMR: the differences, understanding the distinction between wire-guided AGVs and autonomous robots such as MiR or the autonomous pallet truck.
- Do you need a CACES certificate to operate a handling robot?, the regulatory framework to plan for before a factory rollout.
- ROI of a pallet-truck robot, how to calculate the return on investment specific to your site, rather than by extrapolation.
- Types of logistics robots, placing MiR and Skypod robots among the main families of mobile robots.
- Kitting and line-side supply: organising just-in-time, the upstream organisation behind the robotised flow.
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