SoftBank and Nvidia lead $500 million funding round for Agile Robots

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Agile Robots raises $500 million

Highlights

Agile Robots raises $500M in funding.
SoftBank leads, with Nvidia and Hitachi.
Agile Robots reaches an $8.5B valuation.

The financing will support expansion into the United States, additional manufacturing capacity in Germany, and entry into new markets, according to The New York Times. Founder and CEO Zhaopeng Chen also identified a potential future initial public offering as part of the company's longer-term plans. Agile Robots has now raised approximately $2 billion in total funding.

Agile Robots expands manufacturing in Germany and the U.S.

Founded in 2018 as a spin-off from the German Aerospace Center, Agile Robots develops humanoid robots, robotic arms, and AI-powered industrial automation systems. The company employs more than 2,000 research and development specialists, holds over 650 patents, and works with technology partners including Google DeepMind.

Earlier this year, Agile Robots opened a factory in Fürstenfeldbruck, near Munich, with a stated annual capacity of up to 10,000 wheeled and legged humanoid robots. It has deployed nearly 30,000 robotic systems across industries, including automotive manufacturing, electronics, and logistics, with humanoids accounting for approximately 3,000 to 4,000 units.

The company expects annual revenue to double to roughly €600 million, or $668 million. It is also considering production in Auburn Hills, Michigan, following its acquisition of ThyssenKrupp Automation Engineering assets in Europe and North America.

European robotics investment accelerates

The funding places Agile Robots among Europe's most highly valued robotics companies. German rival Neura Robotics recently reached a valuation of approximately $7 billion, while defense technology company Quantum Systems and British autonomous driving developer Wayve have been valued at $8 billion and $8.6 billion, respectively.

European manufacturers are increasingly testing humanoid robots for industrial operations. Swiss company Hexagon Robotics is conducting a pilot with BMW in Leipzig, while British developer Humanoid plans to integrate its systems into German automotive supplier Schaeffler's operations by the end of 2026.

Industrial AI faces a test of commercial scale

Agile Robots' expansion reflects growing interest in physical AI as manufacturers seek to improve productivity and address labor shortages. Yet developers must demonstrate that advanced robots can operate safely and consistently outside controlled testing environments.

Training remains a major obstacle because complex industrial tasks require extensive real-world movement data. China already operates approximately 2.3 million industrial robots, underscoring the scale of competition facing European manufacturers.

For Agile Robots, the new capital provides resources to expand production and pursue international customers. Its ability to convert manufacturing capacity into reliable deployments will be central to sustaining its $8.5 billion valuation.

Earlier, we covered projections of U.S. humanoid robot production reaching 400,000 units by 2030, based on J.P. Morgan estimates.

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