SoftBank leads $500m round in Agile Robots after ABB deal blocked
The German robotics firm says revenue roughly doubled to about $230 million and plans mass production at a new Bavarian factory in early 2026.
SoftBank led an investment round of roughly $500 million in German robotics company Agile Robots, about a week after China blocked its acquisition of ABB's robotics business, according to digitaltoday.co.kr. NVIDIA is also participating in the round.
Agile Robots said its revenue roughly doubled year on year to about $230 million, or around 200 million euros. The company has more than 3,200 employees in Germany, China and India.
Agile Robots plans to begin full-scale mass production at a new factory in Bavaria in early 2026. CEO Chen Zhaopeng said the company intends to build 1,000 to 2,000 small humanoid robots next year, using NVIDIA's Jetson Thor computer and GR00T AI model.
The Agile One series robots stand 1.4 meters tall and weigh about 34 kg. Agile Robots unveiled its first humanoid robot, Agile One, in November 2025.
Setback in China
In October 2025, SoftBank and ABB signed a $5.4 billion deal for ABB's China robotics business. On November 5, ABB said China's National Development and Reform Commission would not approve the transfer of that business to SoftBank.
SoftBank has backed Agile Robots before: in 2021 it led a $220 million Series C round for the company, which was founded in 2018 by researchers from the German Aerospace Center and became Germany's first robotics unicorn.
Quick answers
How much did SoftBank invest in Agile Robots?
SoftBank led an investment round of roughly $500 million in the German robotics company, with NVIDIA also participating.
What robots is Agile Robots planning to build?
CEO Chen Zhaopeng said the company plans to build 1,000 to 2,000 small humanoid robots next year, using NVIDIA's Jetson Thor computer and GR00T AI model.
Why did the ABB deal fall through?
On November 5, ABB said China's National Development and Reform Commission would not approve the transfer of its China robotics business to SoftBank.