ABB Robotics

No.2 global industrial-robot maker, being acquired by SoftBank for $5.4B to anchor its physical-AI push

Division of ABB (sale to SoftBank pending) · No humanoid status · Robotics leader · Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland · Founded 1988 · abb.com

Part of ABB Ltd (pending transfer to SoftBank Group).

Reported Closing status as of Oct 2026 unconfirmed. Not a humanoid maker.

Profile

ABB Robotics is one of the world's largest industrial-robot makers. SoftBank agreed in Oct 2025 to buy it for $5.375B to combine with its AI bets, including Skild AI. EU approval was reported in Mar 2026, and the deal was expected to close in mid-to-late 2026.

People

• MS
  Marc Segura

  President of ABB Robotics

Source: Acquisition of ABB Ltd's robotics business (SoftBank Group press release) · As of Oct 8, 2026. X handles are shown only when we could confirm they belong to the person.

Flagship robots

• Industrial robots and cobots (GoFa, YuMi) Industrial robot

Market & financials

Competitors

Companies with overlapping products. Direct = same customers and same job; Adjacent = overlapping technology or market, different focus.

• FANUC

  Direct competitor

  JPRobotics leader

  Both sell industrial robot arms to factories worldwide: FANUC is the world's largest industrial-robot maker and also sells cobots, while ABB Robotics makes industrial robots and is being acquired by SoftBank.

  Sources (2)

  • ABB to divest Robotics division to SoftBank Group (ABB)
  • FANUC (company website)

• Kawasaki Heavy Industries (Robotics)

  Direct competitor

  JPHumanoid OEM

  Both sell industrial robot arms to factories worldwide: Kawasaki Heavy Industries makes industrial robots and is developing the Kaleido humanoid for factory use around 2030, while ABB Robotics makes industrial robots and is being acquired by SoftBank.

  Sources (2)

  • ABB to divest Robotics division to SoftBank Group (ABB)
  • The current goals of Kaleido 9 as a humanoid robot (Kawasaki Robotics)

• KUKA

  Direct competitor

  DERobotics leader

  Both sell industrial robot arms to factories worldwide: KUKA makes industrial robots and is owned by China's Midea, while ABB Robotics makes industrial robots and is being acquired by SoftBank.

  Sources (2)

  • ABB to divest Robotics division to SoftBank Group (ABB)
  • KUKA (company website)

Recent news

• Oct 8, 2025 — SoftBank agrees to acquire ABB Robotics for $5.375B Reuters

Sources

• Acquisition of ABB Ltd's robotics business (SoftBank Group) (Oct 8, 2025)
• SoftBank to buy ABB's robot business for $5.4 billion (Reuters) (Oct 8, 2025)
• ABB to divest Robotics division to SoftBank Group (ABB) (Oct 8, 2025)

Confidence: medium.

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