Tai Mei Ti A P P·2025-10-16 02:54Group 1 - ABB Group has sold its robotics business unit to SoftBank for $5.375 billion, with the transaction expected to be completed in mid-2026 pending regulatory approval [1][2] - The sale is seen as a strategic move by ABB to create immediate value for its shareholders, as the robotics division has been underperforming, with a 39% year-on-year profit decline in 2024 [2][3] - SoftBank's acquisition aims to enhance its ambitions in physical AI, which focuses on the application of artificial intelligence in the real world, moving beyond traditional software algorithms [1][6] Group 2 - The robotics market has become increasingly competitive, with ABB's profit margins in this sector dropping to 12.1%, below the overall group profit margin of 18.1% [3][4] - The decline in ABB's robotics business is attributed to reduced orders from key industries like automotive and electronics, as companies delay automation investments due to economic conditions [4][5] - The rise of domestic Chinese brands in the robotics market, which increased their market share from 47% in 2023 to 58% in 2024, has also pressured ABB's pricing strategies [4][5] Group 3 - SoftBank's previous investments in robotics, such as Aldebaran and Boston Dynamics, faced challenges, but the acquisition of ABB's robotics business is seen as a more strategic fit due to its established market presence [6][7] - SoftBank aims to create a comprehensive ecosystem that integrates hardware, AI capabilities, and data feedback loops to develop a self-learning physical intelligence network [7][10] - The acquisition positions SoftBank as a more active player in the robotics industry, transitioning from an "ecosystem investor" to an "ecosystem leader" [10][11]