SoftBank weighs deal for Gravis Robotics at $500M valuation, doubling down on construction autonomy

SoftBank Group is considering acquiring Gravis Robotics AG, an ETH Zurich spinout making excavators and loaders self-drive, reportedly at a valuation over $500 million. Gravis raised $23 million in November 2025 led by IQ Capital and Zacua Ventures; the new SoftBank offer would mark a major step-up in valuation for the young robotics startup and signal SoftBank's pivot from humanoid robots to machines that do physical construction work.

Gravis's retrofit autonomy platform uses AI, LiDAR, sensors, and real-time hydraulic controls to transform standard earthmoving equipment into autonomous systems. The startup claims its technology increases output by 30% on job sites while reducing rework and improving safety—addressing a persistent shortage of skilled machine operators in construction. The company is already operating machines across seven countries with customers including contractor Taylor Woodrow and building materials giant Holcim.

The deal, if closed, extends SoftBank's robotics spree beyond the recent $5.375 billion acquisition of ABB's industrial robotics division (financing finalized this week). SoftBank CEO Masayoshi Son has explicitly repositioned the conglomerate's focus to 'Physical AI'—machines with bodies that do work—rather than software or dialogue-based AI. Earlier in 2025, SoftBank invested $500 million in Skild AI, which builds general-purpose models for robot control.

For investors, the Gravis bid underscores the construction sector's growing appetite for AI-powered autonomy and labor-cost relief, even as supply shortages and regulatory uncertainty complicate rapid scaling. Global robotics investment more than doubled to $27.6 billion in 2025, signaling that SoftBank is following genuine market momentum rather than chasing hype in the sector.