Hyundai buys Boston Dynamics
Hyundai Motor Group buys SoftBank’s remaining 9.65% stake in Boston Dynamics for $325 million, turning the robotics firm into a owned subsidiary. The transaction closes as Boston Dynamics’ Atlas humanoid robot enters commercial deployment, intensifying competition with Tesla Optimus and Figure AI. The deal follows Hyundai’s 2021 acquisition of an 80% stake for about $880 million, which valued the company at roughly $1.1 billion, and SoftBank’s purchase of the firm from Alphabet in 2017 after Google’s 2013 acquisition. SoftBank had retained a put option from the 2021 deal, allowing it to sell its residual share at a price, which Hyundai now exercises.
The takeover gives Hyundai full control of one of the few robotics companies that can deploy machines in real factories, opening a path to integrate robotics into automotive production and logistics. SoftBank exits to refocus on its $41 billion bet on OpenAI and broader AI infrastructure, signaling a shift of capital toward foundational AI rather than hardware ventures. This move positions Hyundai to advance driving and initiatives, using Boston Dynamics’ expertise in mobility and sensor integration.