LG Electronics has acquired a majority stake in Bear Robotics, a Silicon Valley-based startup making AI-driven autonomous service robots, as part of its strategy to expand its presence in the robotics sector. LG’s board of directors exercised a call option to purchase an additional 30% stake in Bear Robotics, following an initial investment in March 2024 that secured LG a 21% stake in the company. With this acquisition, LG now holds a controlling 51% interest, establishing Bear Robotics as a subsidiary.
Bear Robotics, founded in 2017, specializes in AI-powered indoor delivery robots, with a market presence in the United States, South Korea, and Japan. The integration of Bear Robotics with LG’s existing robotics business, particularly its “LG CLOi Robots,” aims to strengthen LG’s commercial robot offerings. The key management of Bear Robotics, including CEO John Ha, will remain in place to maintain business continuity and enhance synergies within LG’s commercial robotics division.
This strategic acquisition supports LG’s broader goal of advancing its commercial, home, and industrial robotics capabilities. In the commercial sector, the company plans to integrate Bear Robotics’ technologies to develop a unified software platform for various robot applications. LG’s commercial robots will be combined with other business solutions, including hotel TVs and IT devices, to deliver customized B2B products.
In the home robotics segment, LG is developing products such as the Self-driving AI Home Hub, known as Q9, which features voice, sound, and image recognition technologies. The Q9 is designed to interact seamlessly with household appliances and IoT devices, enabling it to navigate homes autonomously and respond to the needs of residents. It incorporates Microsoft’s voice recognition technology to facilitate natural interactions and has attracted attention for its advanced capabilities.
LG is also focusing on industrial robotics through its Smart Factory business, led by its Production Engineering Research Institute. Innovations in this area include the “Autonomous Vertical Articulated Robot,” designed to enhance automation in manufacturing processes by performing tasks such as assembly and defect inspection.
LG CEO William Cho, speaking at CES 2025, highlighted the company’s commitment to robotics as a critical growth area. He indicated plans to expand into home robotics and pursue innovations aimed at achieving automation goals, including the concept of a “Zero-labor Home.”
Lee Sam-soo, Chief Strategy Officer at LG Electronics, emphasized that the additional investment in Bear Robotics reflects LG’s commitment to positioning robots as a central element of its future growth strategy. LG aims to leverage its expertise in AI, manufacturing, and supply chain management to enhance the development and deployment of robotic solutions across commercial, industrial, and home environments. The integration with Bear Robotics is expected to improve LG’s overall software capabilities, shorten development cycles, and increase operational efficiency.