China blocks SoftBank's $5.4b deal to acquire ABB robotics business

Summary

The Chinese government has blocked Japanese investment firm SoftBank Group's planned $5.4 billion acquisition of Swiss engineering company ABB's robotics business, according to Bloomberg and an emailed statement from ABB. The transaction was prohibited by a Chinese government agency under the National Development and Reform Commission. SoftBank stated that discussions are ongoing between the two firms as they seek a way forward for the deal. The proposed acquisition aimed to strengthen SoftBank's position in physical artificial intelligence (AI), which involves integrating AI into robots capable of interacting with the physical world.

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Article text · Original source · English

The Chinese government's decision deals a setback to SoftBank's ambition to expand into physical AI.

TBS Report

06 November, 2026, 04:05 pm

Last modified: 06 November, 2026, 04:13 pm

China has blocked Japanese investment firm SoftBank Group's planned $5.4 billion acquisition of Swiss engineering company ABB's robotics business, dealing a setback to its ambition to expand into physical artificial intelligence (AI), according to Bloomberg.

ABB confirmed the decision in an emailed statement, saying a Chinese government agency had blocked the transaction.

SoftBank said an office under China's National Development and Reform Commission had prohibited the acquisition of ABB's robotics operations in China. The Japanese company said the two firms were in discussions and seeking a way forward for the deal.

The proposed acquisition was aimed at strengthening SoftBank's position in physical AI, which involves integrating artificial intelligence into robots and other machines capable of interacting with the physical world.

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The Chinese government's decision deals a setback to SoftBank's ambition to expand into physical AI. TBS Report 06 November, 2026, 04:05 pm Last modified: 06 November, 2026, 04:13 pm China has blocked Japanese investment firm SoftBank Group's planned $5.4 billion acquisition of Swiss engineering company ABB's robotics business, dealing a setback to its ambition to expand into physical artificial intelligence (AI), ac
Open source S2

cording to Bloomberg. ABB confirmed the decision in an emailed statement, saying a Chinese government agency had blocked the transaction. SoftBank said an office under China's National Development and Reform Commission had prohibited the acquisition of ABB's robotics operations in China. The Japanese company said the two firms were in discussions and seeking a way forward for the deal. The proposed acquisition was ai
Open source S3

China blocks SoftBank's $5.4b deal to acquire ABB robotics business
Open source S1