Robotics company 1X, known for its consumer-focused Neo humanoid robots, has announced a significant strategic partnership that will see its "home" robots deployed in industrial settings. The deal with EQT, a large Swedish multi-asset investor and one of 1X's backers, will make up to thousands of its humanoid robots available to EQT's global portfolio companies, marking a notable pivot from personal use to factories and warehouses.
A Major Industrial Deployment
The agreement, announced Thursday, outlines the shipment of up to 10,000 1X Neo humanoid robots between 2026 and 2030. These advanced robots are destined for EQT’s extensive network of over 300 portfolio companies, with a primary focus on manufacturing, warehousing, logistics, and other industrial applications. 1X confirmed to TechCrunch that individual deals will be finalized with each interested EQT portfolio company.
The Strategic Pivot for Neo
This strategic shift is particularly noteworthy given that 1X’s Neo robot was initially marketed as a personal assistant for home use, even being dubbed the "first consumer-ready humanoid robot designed to transform life at home." Unlike some competitors, such as Figure, or even 1X's own industrial-grade robot, Eve Industrial, the Neo was not originally positioned for commercial or industrial deployment. When the company opened up pre-orders for the $20,000 robot in October, the announcement heavily emphasized its capabilities for household chores and human interaction within a domestic environment.
Challenges of the Consumer Humanoid Market
The move toward industrial applications likely stems from the inherent challenges of the consumer humanoid market. Selling a $20,000 robot for home use presents a significant hurdle, automatically limiting the potential customer base. Furthermore, the Neo specifically includes a privacy element that many people might find difficult to accept: human operators from 1X are able to look through the robot's eyes into a user's home. Safety concerns regarding the robots' size and potential instability around pets and small children also contribute to the slow adoption of humanoids in domestic settings. Robotics experts and venture capitalists have widely suggested that widespread humanoid adoption in homes is still years, if not a decade, away.
Despite these challenges in the consumer market, 1X reported that pre-orders for its Neo bot "far exceeded" the company's internal goals, though specific numbers were not disclosed. Founded in 2014, 1X has successfully raised over $130 million in venture capital from prominent firms including EQT Ventures, Tiger Global, and the OpenAI Startup Fund, among others.
