LG Electronics uses robotics as its next big growth driving force. The Korean electronics company said on Friday that it had agreed to buy 30 % of the Bear Robotics. Bear Robotics was a California startup that was previously supported, which is building AI -driven server robots for restaurants. The transaction enables LG to have 51 % of the ownership in the startup, and the company will now become a subsidiary of a large company. LG refused to comment on the value of its latest shares; local stores in South Korea said it was $ 180 million. If it is accurate, the total valuation of the bear will be $ 600 million.
The company spokesman added that once the transaction is completed, the exact number will be disclosed.
LG said in its statement that Bear is known for its professional knowledge that can control multiple robots, especially the management of the long -range fleet. This technology giant intends to integrate a commercial robot unit that develops bears with his "LG CLOI Robot" to strengthen its home robot and industrial robotic departments.
The technology of technology is that it is trying to use Bear's technology to develop a comprehensive software platform for business, industry and home robots. LG said that as the robot industry has developed more, this investment and transactions are expected to improve LG's robotic software capabilities.
The news was that in March 2024, the electronic company poured $ 60 million into the bear robot technology less than a year. The transaction has made LG the largest shareholder of Bear. BEAR's funds are valued by more than 490 million US dollars before 2022, each tone data.
CEO John Ha and Bear Management team will retain and continue to help establish a synergy with LG's robot units.
HA was a former Google software engineer who turned into a restaurant owner. He founded Bear in 2017 after witnessing the challenge of running a restaurant, which inspired his challenge to develop service robots. Start -ups supported by SoftBank in the United States, South Korea, and Japan operate indoor delivery robots. Its robot aims to help restaurant customers with food.
LEE SAM-SOO, chief strategic officer of LG Electronics, said in a statement: "This additional investment emphasizes our dedication to positioning robots as the company's key growth engine, reflecting our belief in the inevitable role of the future in the future "" "We will adhere to the innovation of all robotics technology, including business, industry and family applications."
Robotics and robotics are a little theme on CES 2025 this year. LG has made itself part of this story. The LG CEO William Cho emphasized the potential of the robot's application to its current role in the fields of hotels and delivery.
LG's interest in this technology can be traced back to this year, and the popularity of everything recently. South Korea and Japan are the earliest earliest commercial adopters in the field. Korean electronics companies have researched and developed robotic software and hardware for more than ten years. In 2017, LG deployed guidelines robots at Incheon International Airport, South Korea's largest airport.
LG also has a large number of household robotics business through the LG Home Eppliance solution department. Its home robots aim to be used with household appliances and other family scenarios. An example is the AI family center, a project called Q9, which is planned to be released later this year. It has autonomous driving technology and can perceive sound, sound and image. Q9 has Microsoft's voice recognition and synthetic technology, so users can easily and naturally talk.
Its industrial robots are "automatic vertical hinge robots", using sensors to navigate, move and execute tasks with robot arm.
LG's competitor Samsung said earlier this month that it will launch a home robot in the first half of this year.