Boston Dynamics is unlikely to pursue an initial public offering in 2027, according to a Hyundai Motor Group executive, as its Atlas humanoid robot has yet to reach large-scale industrial deployment. The company also remains loss-making, limiting the case for a near-term public listing.
Atlas has demonstrated autonomous task execution without human intervention and appeared at the 2026 World Cup, but Hyundai still faces a substantial gap between high-profile demonstrations and operating thousands of robots every day on factory floors.
Hyundai acquired Boston Dynamics in 2021 and is preparing to buy SoftBank's remaining stake, a move that would give the automaker full control of the robotics company. Boston Dynamics reportedly accumulated nearly 1.7 trillion won in losses between 2021 and 2025.
- Hyundai aims to establish annual production capacity for up to 30,000 Atlas robots by 2028.
- The group plans to deploy roughly 25,000 Atlas units across Hyundai and Kia factories.
- Early major deployments are expected at U.S. manufacturing sites, including facilities in Georgia.
The planned manufacturing ramp suggests Hyundai is positioning Atlas for factory work rather than abandoning a future IPO. The key question is whether the company can turn those targets into large-scale, economically viable deployments before revisiting a listing timetable.
