Toyota eyes robotic firms

Toyota is in talks to buy two robotics divisions from Google’s parent company, Alphabet according to a report from Nikkei.

The Japanese firm is interested in buying Boston Dynamics – the firm behind Cheetah, said to be the fastest-legged robot in the world – and Schaft, a venture led by two former Tokyo University professors.

Toyota declined to directly comment on the report but stated the group, along with its research and development arm, Toyota Research Institute, ‘regularly discuss[es] possible collaborations with outside partners to help create ever-better cars and to advance our research and development efforts’.

Last year, Toyota announced plans to intensify its research into robotics, with a $1bn (£690m) investment to be made over the next five years.

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