Hyundai

A Morning in Seoul: The Deal Everyone Had Been Waiting For

On Thursday, South Korean automotive giant Hyundai Motor HYUD.L ... officially announced that it would acquire the remaining shares of Boston Dynamics from $ SOBKY ... Japan’s SoftBank Group. This is not merely another piece of corporate finance news—it is a declaration of Hyundai’s intention to gain full control over one of the most ambitious projects in the robotics industry. As is often the case with major deals, there is far more behind the dry wording of the press release than a simple transfer of shares.

To recap the background, Hyundai acquired a controlling stake in Boston Dynamics in 2021. At the time, the deal caused a sensation. The company, famous for its four-legged Spot robots and dancing humanoid Atlas robots, had always been viewed more as an icon of engineering excellence than as a commercially successful business. SoftBank, which had owned Boston Dynamics since 2017, retained a stake of approximately 9.65%. Now, however, the Japanese group has exercised its put option, and Hyundai is purchasing the remaining stake in full.

The value of the transaction has not been officially disclosed, but South Korean media estimate it at approximately 500 billion won, equivalent to around $325–335 million. For Hyundai, which paid roughly $880 million for an 80% stake in 2021, this is not an especially large amount, particularly when measured against the scale of the company’s ambitions.

Why Does Hyundai Want Full Control?

The main answer is strategy. Whenever a company has a minority shareholder—even one holding less than 10%—certain limitations remain. Like any investor, SoftBank had its own interests and expectations regarding the timeline for generating returns. Those restrictions will now disappear. Hyundai will be able to make long-term decisions without having to accommodate another shareholder’s expectations and can fully...

When Two Giants Sit Down at the Same Table

In the world of high technology, some developments make markets pause and watch closely. The ongoing talks between Nvidia and Hyundai Motor Group are one of those moments. Not because the two companies have never worked together before—they have, and quite extensively. Rather, it is because the scale of what is now being discussed goes far beyond a standard business partnership.

At the center of the discussions is the creation of an artificial intelligence technology hub in South Korea. Not merely an office or a university-affiliated research lab, but a full-scale R&D center that could become Nvidia’s third major base in Asia, alongside its existing hubs in Singapore and Taiwan.

Reports that negotiations have entered their final stage emerged Thursday in The Korea Economic Daily, citing government and industry officials. There has been no official confirmation yet. A Hyundai Motor Group spokesperson stated that no final decisions have been made regarding the project, its timeline, or its location. However, the fact that details surfaced just before Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang’s visit to Seoul is telling.

The timing is significant. In October 2025, Hyundai, Nvidia, and South Korea’s Ministry of Science and ICT signed a memorandum of understanding. Nvidia committed to supplying GPUs to Hyundai and jointly developing AI facilities in the country. Six months later, the partnership appears to be moving from broad commitments to concrete implementation.

Now attention has shifted to the final details: site selection, project structure, and strategic alignment. Huang is expected to arrive in Seoul on Friday and meet Hyundai Motor Group Executive Chair Euisun Chung. According to reports, an informal dinner is planned in Seoul’s Seongsu-dong district, with executives from SK Group, LG Group, and Naver also expected to attend.

The rumored menu? Korean pork belly...