SEOUL, South Korea — June 22, 2026
Hyundai Motor Group is preparing to acquire the remaining stake in U.S. robotics company Boston Dynamics from SoftBank Group in a transaction valued at approximately $325 million, a move that would give the South Korean automotive giant complete ownership of the renowned robotics developer.
According to reports, Hyundai plans to purchase SoftBank’s remaining 9.65% stake in Boston Dynamics. The acquisition is expected to be approved at a board meeting scheduled for June 22 and would make the robotics company a wholly owned Hyundai subsidiary.
Final Step in Hyundai’s Robotics Strategy
The deal stems from a put-option agreement established when Hyundai acquired a controlling interest in Boston Dynamics in 2021. At the time, Hyundai and its affiliates purchased an 80% stake in the company, while SoftBank retained a minority holding. Since then, Hyundai’s ownership has increased to more than 90%, leaving SoftBank with less than 10% of the business.
Industry sources cited in South Korean media reported that SoftBank has chosen to exercise its right to sell the remaining shares back to Hyundai under the terms of the original agreement.
Bet on Humanoid Robotics
The acquisition comes at a pivotal time for Boston Dynamics as it pushes toward commercial deployment of its next-generation humanoid robot, Atlas. The company has been transitioning from research-focused robotics development to commercial applications in manufacturing, logistics, and industrial automation.
Hyundai has identified robotics as a key pillar of its long-term strategy and has already announced plans to deploy Boston Dynamics technologies across its manufacturing operations. The automaker has also committed to purchasing large volumes of robots from the company in the coming years as part of its smart factory initiatives.
Strengthening Control Over Future Technologies
Full ownership would allow Hyundai to more closely integrate Boston Dynamics’ robotics capabilities with its broader investments in artificial intelligence, autonomous mobility, advanced manufacturing, and smart logistics. The move also strengthens Hyundai’s position in the increasingly competitive humanoid robotics market, where companies are racing to commercialize robots for industrial use.
For SoftBank, the sale represents the completion of a gradual exit from an investment it first acquired in 2017. The Japanese technology investor is expected to redeploy capital toward artificial intelligence and other strategic growth areas.
If approved, the transaction will mark the final chapter in Hyundai’s multi-year acquisition of Boston Dynamics and underscore the automaker’s growing ambition to become a major player in the global robotics industry.
Source: Patronlar Dünyası/ Prepared by: İlayda Gök