Last month there were reports that Boston Dynamics, they of the interesting robotics tech, was due to be sold off to auto-maker Hyundai for an undisclosed sum. It’s not undisclosed anymore.
According to the Korea Economic Daily, the company has reached a deal with Boston Robotics owner SoftBank that will see the tech company change hands for $921 million (1 trillion won). The report, from earlier this week, claimed that the deal would be finalised as of 10 December 2020.
Hyundai’s new robot cars?
What the vehicle manufacturer might do with its shiny new robotics company isn’t known but the company has a rather large background in the field as it is. And then there’s 2019’s CES presentation, where Hyundai showed of the Elevate, its concept robotic vehicle that can stride over obstacles like a disconcerting metal spider.
The purchase likely has a lot to do with the company’s future aims. Korea Economic Daily reports that Hyundai Motor Group chairman Chung Euisun said in a speech at the beginning of this year that it would be investing 100 trillion won (about 100 billion) in “…future mobility, including personal air vehicles, robotics and last-mile delivery robots, as well as existing engine vehicles.” Having Boston Dynamics in their corner is, at the very least, a good start.
Source: Korea Economic Daily