October 27, 2025
SoftBank has reached an agreement to acquire ABB’s Robotics division for $5.375 billion, opting not to proceed with the previously planned spin-off. The deal, approved by SoftBank’s board of directors, is subject to regulatory approvals in the European Union, the United States, and China, with closing expected between mid and late 2026.
ABB Robotics has approximately 7,000 employees worldwide.
In 2024, it reported revenues of $2.279 billion, with an operating margin around 12.1%.
Robotics revenues account for about 7% of ABB’s total. Nevertheless, the company determined that there were limited technical or market synergies with its other divisions focused on automation and electrification.
With the sale of Robotics, ABB aims to streamline its portfolio by focusing on electrification, process automation, and energy infrastructure.
The Machine Automation division, previously part of Robotics, will be integrated into Process Automation.
For SoftBank, the acquisition is more than just an expansion in robotics: it is a bet on physical AI, the integration of artificial intelligence with physical robotics.
ABB Robotics’ technical expertise and customer base will give SoftBank a strategic advantage in areas such as advanced automation, logistics, smart factories, and robotic systems capable of learning and operating in real-world environments.
The transaction will need to overcome several obstacles, including:
The acquisition could accelerate the adoption of intelligent robotics as a key element in the factories of the future.
SoftBank will gain established technologies and strong market channels, positioning itself to lead the evolution toward increasingly autonomous and intelligent robotic systems.
