SoftBank Robotics

Type
Internal restructuring
Country
France
Region
Ile-de-France; Ile-de-France; Paris
Location of affected unit(s)
Paris, other locations
Sector
Manufacturing
(28) Manufacture of machinery and equipment
28.9 - Manufacture of other special-purpose machinery
28.99 - Manufacture of other special-purpose machinery n.e.c.
165 jobs
Number of planned job losses
Job loss
Announcement Date
14 June 2021
Employment effect (start)
14 June 2021
Foreseen end date

Description

SoftBank Robotics, a subsidiary of the Japanese group located in France and specialized in the design of humanoid robots Pepper and Nao, launched a layoff plan that aims to cut nearly half of its jobs in France, amounting to around 165 positions out of 330.

The high prices of the robots, the lack of success of humanoid robots due to their low acceptance in Western countries compared to Asia and the loss of about 100 million euros over the last three years led to this decision. Softbank is renouncing the commercialisation and development of its humanoid robots in Europe, while shifting focus to new robotic products developed in Japan

Sources

Citation

Eurofound (2021), SoftBank Robotics, Internal restructuring in France, factsheet number 203232, European Restructuring Monitor. Dublin, https://apps.eurofound.europa.eu/restructuring-events/detail/203232.