Production Line Robot Kills Car Factory Worker

A robot at a Volkswagen (Other OTC: VLKAF - news) car production plant has killed a worker.

The 22-year-old victim was part of a team setting up the stationary robot which struck him in the chest and crushed him against a metal plate.

It happened on Monday at the plant in Baunatal in Germany, which is about 60 miles north of Frankfurt.

Volkswagen spokesman Heiko Hillwig said initial investigations show that human error was to blame, rather than an issue with the robot.

The robot is used to grab car parts and move and fit them on the production line.

Prosecutors are currently weighing up whether to bring charges against the company over the death.

In Europe, accidents involving robots are rare as they are typically kept behind safety cages to prevent accidental contact with humans.

A new generation of lightweight robots have been developed by Volkswagen which will work side-by-side with workers on the production line without safety cages.

But Mr Hillwig stressed that the robot in question was not one of the new models.