Agility Robotics to Go Public, Unveils Next-Generation Humanoid Robot

Agility Robotics, a leading humanoid robot maker, plans to go public via a USD 2.5 billion special purpose acquisition vehicle. This move is expected to deliver more than USD 620 million in gross proceeds, funding product development, expansion, and research and development. The company also announced its fifth-generation Digit, a humanoid robot for which it has secured more than USD 300 million of multi-year orders, subject to the realization of certain contractual milestones.

Credit: AGILITY

If the transaction completes as planned, Agility will become the only United States-listed pure-play humanoid company. Its claims will then be subject to the scrutiny of public markets, offering transparency to investors.

Globally, other humanoid robot organisations are also pursuing public listings. EngineAI has confidentially filed for a Hong Kong IPO in summer 2026, according to Bloomberg, while Shanghai-based Agibot plans a Hong Kong IPO, probably at a reported USD 5 billion to USD 6.4 billion valuation. Unitree, known for its quadrupeds and the G1 humanoid, is pursuing a Shanghai STAR Market listing at a reported USD 6.2 billion valuation.

Agility's existing humanoid robot, Digit, was the first to secure a paying job and has now logged 65,000 hours in live client facilities. These robots have been moving totes and handling parts for paying enterprises, including auto-parts giant Schaeffler, logistics operator GXO, Toyota, and Latin American e-commerce firm Mercado Libre.

At GXO's facility in Flowery Branch, Georgia, Digit units have reportedly moved more than 100,000 totes since mid-2024. Meanwhile, at Schaeffler's plant in Cheraw, South Carolina, Digit robots have been running daily factory shifts since early 2025, according to Agility.

Agility is preparing for the commercial launch of Digit v5, which it describes as the world's first cooperatively safe humanoid robot. This next-generation cobot is designed to work safely alongside humans, representing a significant step forward in robotics.

The company has secured over USD 300 million of multi-year orders for Digit v5, subject to contractual milestones, with a growing pipeline of over 30 customers. This reflects increasing demand from enterprises preparing to deploy humanoid robots at scale.

Chief Executive Officer Peggy Johnson estimates the addressable market in manufacturing, distribution, and logistics in the United States alone at roughly USD 1 trillion. Ms. Johnson, formerly a Microsoft business chief and Magic Leap CEO, took the top job at Agility in early 2025.

Jonathan Hurst, cofounder and chief robot officer, stated the company's mission is to build robots capable of performing useful physical work in environments designed for people. He believes cooperative safety is crucial for widespread humanoid adoption.

Agility was also selected as the launch partner for NVIDIA Halos, described as the first full-stack safety system for physical artificial intelligence and humanoid robotics. This partnership underscores the focus on creating safe human-robot interactions.

The special purpose acquisition vehicle taking Agility public is associated with Michael Klein. Churchill Capital Corp IV, a Klein vehicle, merged with EV maker Lucid in 2021, though the stock has spent most of its public life below the $10 reference price. Churchill Capital also took MultiPlan public in 2020 with less-than-stellar results.

Addressing the SPAC choice, CEO Johnson stated Churchill brings deep experience partnering with technology companies like Oklo and Infleqtion. She said Churchill guides them through complex public market transactions and supports them post-IPO.

Mr. Klein, for his part, praised Agility's operational record, calling it a "humanoid first mover with proven technology, real-world deployments, and the trust of some of the world's most demanding enterprises." He added he was excited to help the team 'scale deployment of Digit, extend their leadership in physical AI, and create enduring value for shareholders.'

All existing Agility shareholders are rolling 100% of their equity into the combined company and accepting a 180-day lockup. The approximately USD 620 million in proceeds is earmarked for fulfilling existing orders, expanding deployments, scaling Digit v5 production, and continued platform investment.

The new company will trade under the ticker AGLT. This listing will provide one of the first audited measuring sticks for the value of the humanoid robot ecosystem to public markets.

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• Agility Robotics is going public through a USD 2.5 billion SPAC transaction.

• The company expects to raise over USD 620 million for product development and expansion.

• Agility unveiled Digit v5, its next-generation cooperatively safe humanoid robot, for which it has secured over USD 300 million of multi-year orders, subject to the realization of certain contractual milestones.

source: Forbes