Robotics company 1X has announced a strategic partnership to supply up to 10,000 of its Neo humanoid robots to portfolio companies within EQT, a Swedish multi-asset investor. This agreement, disclosed on Thursday, marks a significant application shift for the Neo robot, which was initially introduced with a focus on consumer home use.
The deal targets EQT's more than 300 portfolio companies, with a concentration on manufacturing, warehousing, logistics, and other industrial sectors. Shipments of the Neo humanoids are slated to occur between 2026 and 2030. According to 1X, individual agreements will be established with each interested portfolio company.
This partnership redirects the 1X Neo humanoid, previously marketed as a "first consumer-ready humanoid robot designed to transform life at home." When preorders for the $20,000 robot opened in October, company announcements emphasized its capabilities for household chores and personal interaction. While 1X also produces the Eve Industrial robot designed for commercial purposes, the current agreement specifically involves the Neo model.
The transition of the Neo robot into industrial applications aligns with broader market observations within the robotics sector. Venture capitalists and scientists, as cited by TechCrunch, have suggested that widespread consumer adoption of humanoids may be several years, if not a decade, away due to factors such as safety concerns regarding pets and small children, privacy implications related to human operators viewing through robot cameras, and the initial high price point. 1X, founded in 2014, has raised over $130 million from investors including EQT Ventures, Tiger Global, and the OpenAI Startup Fund. A company spokesperson indicated that Neo preorders "far exceeded" initial goals, though specific figures were not disclosed.
