Hyundai to Buy SoftBank's Stake in Boston Dynamics

By Kimberley Kao

Hyundai Motor Group plans to acquire SoftBank's remaining stake in Boston Dynamics, as it deepens its push into physical artificial intelligence and robotics.

"The contemplated transaction is expected to further support collaboration across Hyundai Motor Group's robotics-related businesses and enhance the Group's ability to execute its long-term robotics strategy," the South Korean auto group said Thursday.

The relevant shareholders are reviewing matters after SoftBank's notice of the exercise of its put option, Hyundai said.

Financial terms of the deal weren't disclosed. In 2021, Hyundai acquired a controlling stake in Boston Dynamics from SoftBank in a deal that valued the robotics company at $1.1 billion at the time.

The South Korean company is building an end-to-end AI robotics value chain combining Boston Dynamics' expertise with the group's manufacturing capabilities, mobility technologies and global supply chain, it said.

Hyundai plans to begin deploying Boston Dynamics' Atlas ⁠humanoid robot at a car manufacturing plant in Georgia in 2028.

The Atlas robot will initially ​handle parts ​sequencing ⁠tasks at the plant, and is expected to support a broader range of ​manufacturing ⁠processes, including component assembly, by 2030, it said.

The planned stake acquisition comes as Hyundai auto workers in South Korea staged a partial strike this week, worried about their job prospects. The labor action is the car industry's first factory stoppage addressing humanoid robots.

Formal negotiations between Hyundai and the union kicked off in May.

The union requested a shift from hourly pay to a fixed salary for production workers to guard against a potential reduction in work hours brought on by automation. They have also asked for much bigger bonuses, tied to an AI boom that has brought greater riches to Hyundai and South Korea.

Write to Kimberley Kao at kimberley.kao@wsj.com

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

July 16, 2026 06:43 ET (10:43 GMT)