Agility Robotics merges for stock market listing
On November 5, 2026, Agility Robotics, developer of the bipedal humanoid robot Digit, announced plans to become a publicly traded company via a merger with a special purpose acquisition company. The proposed deal aims to raise a funding package of approximately $465 million to support the deployment of robots in warehouses and factories.
China’s smart robotics investments reach $13 billion
A new Reuters investigation revealed a shift in China’s robotics sector from showy displays toward developing embodied artificial intelligence capable of practical tasks. Data showed the injection of approximately 93.5 billion yuan ($13 billion) across 322 deals in the first half of 2026, roughly 5 times the previous year.
Toyota enters the humanoid robot race, facing off against Tesla and China
Toyota Motor is moving to turn two decades of robotics research into a broad commercial business, amid plans to upgrade its factories and suppliers with roughly 400,000 robots at an estimated cost of 1 trillion yen annually starting in 2028. These efforts are led by the humanoid robot Eley, designed to coexist with human workers and compete with Tesla and China.
Panasonic targets humanoid robot manufacturing
Panasonic Holdings plans to begin commercial production of humanoid robots by 2029, relying on them first within its own factories and automated warehouses before offering them for sale on the market. The Japanese company is banking on its accumulated expertise in battery technology to deliver robots that operate for longer hours with complete safety.