Hyundai Group is to purchase 80 percent of Boston Dynamics for around $890 million.
Spot, the company’s latest robotic dog, was its first four-legged model to be made commercially available when it went on sale in June this year with a starting price of US$75,000 ($101,000).
Designed for remote or autonomous operation, Spot is designed as an inspection and search device for potentially dangerous situations or locations.
The company also has robots for moving and manipulating packages available for sale.
According to Hyundai, “The deal is also expected to allow Hyundai Motor Group and Boston Dynamics to leverage each other’s respective strengths in manufacturing, logistics, construction and automation”.
When the purchase is completed, it will be the first major acquisition since Chung Euisun formally took his position as head of the Hyundai Motor Group last month.
Like other automakers, Hyundai is investing self-driving technology and recasting itself as a “mobility company”.
In an employee town hall meeting in October, Chung estimated in the future half of the company’s revenue will come from cars, 30 per cent from its air taxi business, and 20 per cent from robotics.