# Which robot companies have been acquired?

**The most consequential robotics acquisitions are Amazon-Kiva ($775M, 2012), Amazon-Zoox ($1.2B, 2020), SoftBank then Hyundai-Boston Dynamics ($1.1B, 2020), GM-Cruise ($1B, 2016), and John Deere-Blue River ($305M, 2017).** Amazon has been the most acquisitive buyer in robotics, acquiring both Kiva Systems (warehouse automation, $775M in 2012) and Zoox (autonomous driving, $1.2B in 2020). Boston Dynamics was acquired twice: by SoftBank from Alphabet in 2017, then by Hyundai Motor Group in 2020 at a $1.1B valuation. GM acquired Cruise for approximately $1B in 2016. John Deere acquired Blue River Technology for $305M in 2017 to enter agricultural robotics. Each deal is attributed to its source and scoped to the disclosed terms.

Last verified Dec 11, 2020. 6 sources.

## Short answer

Robotics has seen several major acquisitions, and the most consequential ones have reshaped the field.\n\nAmazon has been the most acquisitive buyer. It acquired Kiva Systems for $775M in 2012, bringing warehouse robotics in-house and growing the fleet from a few hundred to over 750,000 mobile drive units. In 2020, Amazon acquired Zoox, the purpose-built robotaxi startup, for approximately $1.2B.\n\nBoston Dynamics was acquired twice. Google (Alphabet) acquired it in 2013, then SoftBank acquired it from Alphabet in 2017 after Alphabet put it up for sale. In December 2020, Hyundai Motor Group acquired a controlling 80% stake from SoftBank at a $1.1B valuation, and Boston Dynamics is now part of Hyundai's robotics strategy.\n\nGM acquired Cruise, the San Francisco autonomous driving startup, for approximately $1B in 2016. Cruise became a core part of GM's autonomy strategy until the October 2023 dragging incident led to its license revocation and eventual shutdown in December 2024.\n\nJohn Deere acquired Blue River Technology for approximately $305M in 2017, entering agricultural robotics with the See and Spray computer vision system.\n\nEvery deal on this page is attributed to its source (press releases, SEC filings, press reports) and scoped to the disclosed terms. Where terms were not disclosed, the page says so, never a fabricated number.

## The robotics acquisition ledger

| Acquired | Acquirer | Deal value | Date | Source |\n| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |\n| Boston Dynamics | Hyundai Motor Group | Approximately $1.1B (valuation, 2020) | Dec 11, 2020 (as reported) | [Hyundai Motor Group](https://www.hyundai.co.kr/contents/prctr/news/2020/12/article_20201211_01.html) (2020-12-11) |\n| Zoox | Amazon | Approximately $1.2B (2020) | Jun 26, 2020 (as reported) | [Amazon](https://www.aboutamazon.com/news/transportation/amazon-zoox) (2020-06-26) |\n| Blue River Technology | John Deere | Approximately $305M (2017) | Sep 6, 2017 (as reported) | [John Deere](https://www.deere.com/en/our-company/news-and-press-releases/2017/september/deere-to-acquire-blue-river-technologies/) (2017-09-06) |\n| Boston Dynamics | SoftBank Group | Undisclosed (reported) | Jun 9, 2017 (as reported) | [SoftBank Group](https://www.softbank.jp/en/corp/group/sbm/news/press/2017/pr_2017_06_09_01/) (2017-06-09) |\n| Cruise | General Motors (GM) | Approximately $1B (2016, majority stake) | Mar 11, 2016 (as reported) | [General Motors](https://media.gm.com/media/us/en/gm/news.detail.html/content/Pages/news/us/en/2016/mar/0311-cruise.html) (2016-03-11) |\n| Kiva Systems | Amazon | $775M (cash, 2012) | Mar 19, 2012 (as reported) | [Amazon](https://www.aboutamazon.com/news/operations/amazon-com-to-acquire-kiva-systems) (2012-03-19) |\n\n## How we know this

- [Hyundai Motor Group](https://www.hyundai.co.kr/contents/prctr/news/2020/12/article_20201211_01.html) (2020-12-11)
- [Amazon](https://www.aboutamazon.com/news/transportation/amazon-zoox) (2020-06-26)
- [John Deere](https://www.deere.com/en/our-company/news-and-press-releases/2017/september/deere-to-acquire-blue-river-technologies/) (2017-09-06)
- [SoftBank Group](https://www.softbank.jp/en/corp/group/sbm/news/press/2017/pr_2017_06_09_01/) (2017-06-09)
- [General Motors](https://media.gm.com/media/us/en/gm/news.detail.html/content/Pages/news/us/en/2016/mar/0311-cruise.html) (2016-03-11)
- [Amazon](https://www.aboutamazon.com/news/operations/amazon-com-to-acquire-kiva-systems) (2012-03-19)

## Common questions

### Did Amazon buy a robotics company?

Yes, Amazon has acquired two major robotics companies. Kiva Systems, the warehouse mobile drive unit maker, was acquired for $775M in 2012 and became Amazon Robotics. Zoox, the purpose-built robotaxi startup, was acquired for approximately $1.2B in 2020. Both are attributed to Amazon's press releases and press reports.

### Who bought Boston Dynamics?

Boston Dynamics has been acquired three times. It was acquired by Google (Alphabet) in 2013, then by SoftBank Group in 2017 after Alphabet put it up for sale, then by Hyundai Motor Group in December 2020, which acquired a controlling 80% stake at a $1.1B valuation. Boston Dynamics is now part of Hyundai's robotics strategy.

### Did GM buy Cruise?

Yes. General Motors acquired Cruise, the San Francisco autonomous driving startup, in March 2016 for approximately $1B (including retention packages). GM later bought out remaining investors to take full ownership in 2022. Cruise was shut down in December 2024 after the October 2023 dragging incident led to its license revocation and a series of setbacks.

### What robotics companies has John Deere acquired?

John Deere acquired Blue River Technology for approximately $305M in September 2017, entering agricultural robotics. Blue River's See and Spray technology uses computer vision to identify and spray individual plants, reducing herbicide use. John Deere has since made additional acquisitions in autonomous farming technology.

## Keep reading

- [Which physical-AI companies are worth the most? Valuations ranked.](/valuations.md): Comparisons
- [What AI actually drives each robot? AI stacks compared](/ai-stacks.md): Comparisons
- [Which company is the leader in humanoid robotics?](/which-company-leads-humanoid-robotics.md): Comparisons
- [Which country is no. 1 in robotics?](/which-country-is-number-1-in-robotics.md): Comparisons
- [All verified answers](/answers.md): Every standing question DEPLOY tracks.

_Canonical URL: /which-robot-companies-have-been-acquired. HTML version: [link](/which-robot-companies-have-been-acquired)._