Boston Dynamics announced plans to construct a $100 million manufacturing facility in Waltham, Massachusetts, with the potential to employ up to 1,250 workers by 2033. The company revealed on Wednesday that the new 323,000-square-foot site at 1601 Trapelo Road will consolidate production of its Spot, Atlas, and Stretch robots, while also housing a center for training workers in advanced robotics and artificial intelligence.
The expansion is being supported by Massachusetts through $25 million in tax credits provided by the state’s Economic Assistance Coordinating Council. Amanda McMaster, interim CEO of Boston Dynamics, described the move as a reflection of rapid industry growth and noted the company’s long-standing presence in Waltham.
Boston Dynamics, a subsidiary of Hyundai Motor Group, has been a pioneer in legged robotics, initially gaining recognition for its four-legged Spot robot. The company has since diversified its offerings to include Stretch, designed for warehouse logistics, and is advancing development of Atlas, a humanoid robot platform with capabilities suited for warehouses, factories, and potentially residential environments.
Hyundai became the sole owner of Boston Dynamics in a deal completed last week when it acquired the remaining shares from Japanese conglomerate SoftBank for $325 million. Since Hyundai took majority control in 2020, Boston Dynamics has accelerated efforts to commercialize its humanoid Atlas robots, which first gained viral attention through videos demonstrating their agility and dexterity. While early versions were not suited for everyday tasks, the company intends to introduce Atlas units gradually, starting with Hyundai’s automotive manufacturing facilities.
The move by Boston Dynamics comes amid intensifying global competition in humanoid robotics. Chinese companies are expanding quickly in the sector, with investment bank Morgan Stanley projecting sales of 50,000 humanoid robots in China this year and nearly 450,000 by 2030. U.S. companies are working to keep pace, with firms like Oregon-based Agility Robotics ramping up production. Agility opened a humanoid manufacturing plant in 2024 and recently announced plans to go public via a special-purpose acquisition company, aiming for a valuation of $2.5 billion and raising $600 million for further expansion. Its customer base includes Amazon and Toyota.
Tesla is also heavily investing in humanoid robotics. CEO Elon Musk has indicated that Tesla is ceasing production of two slow-selling vehicle models to focus on producing the Optimus robot, with ambitions to establish an assembly line capable of manufacturing up to one million units annually.
Boston Dynamics’ facility in Waltham positions the company at the center of a fast-evolving robotics landscape, as multiple players race to bring humanoid robots into commercial and industrial use.