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SoftBank to Buy ABB's Robot Business for $5.4 Billion in Push to Merge AI and Robotics

Simon Wisdom

# SoftBank to Acquire ABB’s Robotics Business for $5.4 Billion in Strategic Push to Merge AI and Robotics

October 8, 2025 (Tokyo/Zurich) – Japan’s SoftBank Group has announced a landmark agreement to acquire ABB’s robotics business for $5.4 billion, marking a major move to accelerate its ambition of merging artificial intelligence (AI) with advanced robotics. The acquisition underscores SoftBank’s long-term strategy to become a global leader in intelligent automation and next-generation manufacturing.

“By combining ABB’s world-class robotics technology with our AI expertise, we aim to create smarter, more adaptive systems that transform industries,” said [SoftBank Executive/Spokesperson]. “This acquisition represents a powerful step toward building a truly connected, AI-driven robotics ecosystem.”

ABB, a Swiss-Swedish multinational and one of the pioneers in industrial automation, has built a robust robotics division serving manufacturing, logistics, and service sectors worldwide. SoftBank’s acquisition will allow the company to integrate AI-driven decision-making with ABB’s proven hardware capabilities, creating new opportunities in industrial, service, and consumer robotics markets.

Key Highlights

  • Deal value: $5.4 billion acquisition of ABB’s robotics business by SoftBank
  • Strategic synergy: Combines ABB’s robotics engineering with SoftBank’s AI and automation portfolio
  • Focus areas: Advanced manufacturing, logistics automation, and intelligent service robots
  • Global expansion: Strengthens SoftBank’s robotics presence across Europe, Asia, and North America
  • Innovation vision: Accelerates the development of human–machine collaboration through AI integration

Industry analysts view this acquisition as a pivotal development in the global robotics landscape, potentially reshaping competition among leading automation companies.

“SoftBank’s acquisition of ABB’s robotics unit signals a powerful convergence of AI and industrial automation,” commented [Industry Analyst Name]. “It could redefine how robotics evolves in factories, warehouses, and beyond.”