Lead

Hyundai Motor Group is set to acquire the remaining stake in Boston Dynamics Inc. after SoftBank Group decided to exercise a put option for its 9.65 percent share in the U.S.-based robotics company, industry sources said Thursday. The move would give the South Korean automotive group full ownership of the company, furthering its long-term robotics ambitions.

The acquisition, first reported by Yonhap News Agency, follows Hyundai's initial purchase of an 80 percent stake in Boston Dynamics from SoftBank in 2021 for 1 trillion won (US$674 million). Hyundai's ownership has since increased to 90.35 percent, leaving SoftBank with the remaining 9.65 percent.

Coverage Comparison

The reporting on this development comes from Yonhap News Agency, South Korea's leading wire service. Two separate articles from Yonhap provide essentially the same core facts: Hyundai's plan to acquire the remaining stake, SoftBank's decision to exercise its put option, and the existing ownership structure. One article adds additional details about Boston Dynamics' current valuation and the potential for an initial public offering (IPO) in the United States.

Both reports attribute the information to industry sources and include statements from Hyundai Motor Group. Neither report specifies the expected purchase price, noting only that the group has been seeking to increase its ownership as part of its robotics strategy.

Key Claims

  • Hyundai Motor Group plans to acquire the remaining stake in Boston Dynamics after SoftBank Group exercised its put option for its 9.65 percent stake, as reported by Yonhap News Agency.
  • Hyundai acquired an 80 percent stake in Boston Dynamics from SoftBank in 2021 for 1 trillion won (US$674 million), according to Yonhap.
  • Hyundai's ownership has increased to 90.35 percent, with SoftBank holding the remaining 9.65 percent, as detailed in the reports.
  • The group plans to deploy Atlas, Boston Dynamics' humanoid robot, at Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America (HMGMA) beginning in 2028, initially supporting parts sequencing, with expansion to component assembly by 2030. This plan was included in both Yonhap articles.
  • Boston Dynamics is currently valued at more than 30 trillion won, up from about 1.24 trillion won at the time of the 2021 acquisition, according to one of the Yonhap reports.
  • The acquisition is expected to pave the way for Boston Dynamics' IPO in the United States, also reported by Yonhap.

Perspectives

While the reporting provides a clear picture of the transaction and its strategic rationale, it does not include direct commentary from any parties other than Hyundai Motor Group. The group's statements, as quoted by Yonhap, emphasize the collaboration's role in developing AI-powered robotics and building an end-to-end AI robotics value chain that combines Boston Dynamics' expertise with Hyundai's manufacturing capabilities, mobility technologies, and global value chain.

Industry sources, cited anonymously, contribute the expectation of a potential IPO, but no other named stakeholders—such as SoftBank or Boston Dynamics—provided statements in the material.