Japanese investment giant SoftBank Group has announced plans to acquire ABB Group’s robotics business in a deal valued at $5.375 billion, marking a major step in its push toward what it calls “physical AI.”
The Zurich-based ABB Robotics unit employs around 7,000 people and specializes in industrial robots for manufacturing tasks such as picking, cleaning, and painting. The division generated $2.3 billion in revenue in 2024, about 7% of ABB’s total income.
SoftBank expects the acquisition to close by mid-to-late 2026, pending regulatory approval. ABB confirmed that Sami Atiya, head of the robotics division, will depart the company after the deal is finalized.
The company said it aims to “reignite” sales at ABB Robotics, whose revenue dropped from $2.5 billion in 2023 to $2.3 billion last year.
Over the past decade, SoftBank has steadily expanded its robotics portfolio, investing in companies such as AutoStore, Skild AI, and Agile Robots. It also operates SoftBank Robotics Group, launched in 2014.
“SoftBank’s next frontier is physical AI,” said Masayoshi Son, the company’s chairman and CEO. “Together with ABB Robotics, we will unite world-class technology and talent under our shared vision to fuse Artificial Super Intelligence and robotics, driving a groundbreaking evolution that will propel humanity forward.”
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SoftBank identified four key focus areas for its next phase of growth: AI chips, AI data centers, robotics, and energy. The company says the acquisition supports its mission to advance artificial super intelligence (ASI) for the benefit of humanity.
