A visitor looks at his mobile device next to Pepper the robot during the “Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie” (SIHH) watch fair in Geneva, Switzerland, January 14, 2019. REUTERS/Denis Balibouse/File Photo
TOKYO, Oct 22 (Reuters) – SoftBank Group Corp is in talks to sell the Paris-based robotics business behind its Pepper android to Germany’s United Robotics Group, according to sources and documents reviewed by Reuters, scaling back a business it once touted as a major growth driver.
The talks are ongoing and plans could change, said two sources familiar with the matter, who declined to be named as they are not permitted to speak to the media. It is not clear whether SoftBank will retain a stake in the business.
United Robotics Group, which is backed by German industrial robot maker Hahn, became the European master distributor for SoftBank’s (9984.T) struggling Pepper and Nao robots in October.
United Robotics declined to…
