Would you buy a car from a robot salesman?

If you’ve ever felt that a salesman at a car dealership behaves like a programmed robot just trying to extract money from you, you weren’t mistaken. But the Chinese automaker Chery decided to take this idea to a new level, literally replacing people in showrooms with robots.

Last month, during the auto show in Shanghai and at a dealer event, the company introduced Mornine — a humanoid robot resembling a stormtrooper from “Star Wars.” Judging by its long hair, exaggerated female curves, and oddly rounded buttocks, it was clearly developed by a team of men.

The manufacturer believes that Mornine, which can walk (not very confidently), speak, and has human-like hands, will be able to serve drinks and answer customer questions about car technical specifications.

One dealer interviewed by journalists suggested that each such robot would cost about €50 thousand ($57 thousand), but was not ready to order one without knowing the final price. Chery plans to supply 220 such robots to dealers this year. One unit is already working at a dealership in Malaysia.

Chery’s Big Plans for Robots

Chinese buyers, especially young people, adore technology, and Chery hopes that Mornine will attract attention to their showrooms. But this is only part of the company’s larger plan to develop its Aimoga business, which could make car manufacturing a secondary focus. The company also offers a robot dog for those who cannot afford a real dog or are tired of cleaning up after it.

Chery International President Zhang Guibin considers Aimoga not just an accessory, but the “real future” of the company. And why not? Robots don’t require benefits, don’t get sick, and, if we’re lucky, could replace entire industries.

Robots are already everywhere, and they are here to stay

Many companies, including Tesla and Hyundai, are betting on robots. Hyundai, which acquired Boston Dynamics in 2021, plans to deploy its humanoids at a US plant this year. At Mercedes, robots are already working at a facility in Berlin, and although it’s just a test for now, it’s easy to imagine a time when auto plants will be almost entirely staffed by bipedal machines that don’t need lunch breaks and never go on strike.

We might still be far from personal assistant robots, but the day when they perform everything from assembling cars to consulting in showrooms is not far off. Is all this too much? Perhaps. But in the age of AI, can anything still surprise us?

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