Acquisition Overview
Hyundai Motor Co. announced that it will acquire SoftBank Group Corp.’s remaining 9.65 % stake in Boston Dynamics, thereby taking full ownership of the robotics firm. SoftBank exercised a contractual put option, and Hyundai and its affiliates are reviewing the associated rights and obligations. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed, but South Korea’s Maeil Business Newspaper reported that the 9.65 % stake is valued at approximately $325 million.
Strategic Intent
Hyundai said full ownership will accelerate the development and commercialization of “Physical AI” by combining Boston Dynamics’ robotics expertise with Hyundai’s manufacturing capabilities, mobility technologies and global production network. The centerpiece of this strategy is the Atlas humanoid robot, which Hyundai unveiled in a production‑ready version earlier this year.
Production Plans
Hyundai plans to deploy Atlas at its electric‑vehicle plant in Georgia starting in 2028 and aims to build an annual production capacity of up to 30,000 humanoid robots. The initial applications will focus on logistics and welding tasks, with a roadmap to expand to more advanced manufacturing work such as component assembly by 2030.
Market Reaction
In Seoul trading, Hyundai Motor shares fell 3.6 % while the broader KOSPI index dropped 5.8 % amid a sell‑off in technology stocks. SoftBank shares were largely unchanged, down 0.1 %, compared with a 2.3 % decline in Japan’s Nikkei 225 index.
Broader Context
Hyundai has positioned robotics as a key pillar of its long‑term growth strategy alongside electric vehicles, autonomous driving and software‑defined mobility, reflecting an industry‑wide push to integrate AI‑powered automation into factory operations.