Agile Robots acquires thyssenkrupp Automation Engineering: Physical AI as a catalyst for Industrial Transformation

Munich, 24.11.2025. Agile Robots, a leading provider of AI-powered robotic solutions, is acquiring assets of systems manufacturer thyssenkrupp Automation Engineering in Europe and North America, which have previously been part of the Automotive Technology segment of thyssenkrupp AG. Through the acquisition, the Munich-based company is strengthening its position in next-generation smart automation solutions and is tapping into new growth markets. Decisive factors in choosing thyssenkrupp Automation Engineering were its technological expertise, long-standing customer relationships, and decades of experience in the international automotive industry.   

"Now is the right time to combine AI, robotics, and industrial expertise. Physical AI offers enormous productivity leaps to industrial producers," says Zhaopeng Chen, founder and CEO of Agile Robots. "Together with thyssenkrupp Automation Engineering, we are perfectly positioned to drive the next industrial revolution - and to do that from Germany."    

Founded in 2018 as a spin-off from the German Aerospace Center (DLR) in Munich, Agile Robots currently employs over 2,500 people from around 60 countries. With the acquisition of thyssenkrupp Automation Engineering the team will grow by approximately 650 experts and 10 new locations in Europe and North America. thyssenkrupp Automation Engineering's 2024 revenue was in the hundreds of millions. Since its foundation, Agile Robots has doubled its revenue annually, reaching around 200 million euros in 2024.  

Automotive industry as a launchpad for growth  

The acquisition is taking place in a challenging market environment. The automotive industry, thyssenkrupp Automation Engineering's core business, is undergoing profound change. This is where Agile Robots sees an opportunity: "We want to reposition thyssenkrupp Automation Engineering and tap into new market segments," says Chen. In addition, the company's North American operations offer Agile Robots the opportunity to further strengthen its foothold in the US market.  

Over the past years, Agile Robots has implemented robotic solutions for customers from consumer electronics and automotive sectors across the globe. These projects have not only involved installing robots but have transformed entire production lines. "Our goal is to shorten innovation cycles and continuously optimize our customers' production processes," explained Chen. This is made possible by an integrated portfolio that combines robotics hardware, software, data, and in-house manufacturing expertise - supported by one of the industry's largest R&D teams, with more than 1,000 AI and robotics experts.   

Synergies through strong networks and new industries  

The acquisition strengthens Agile Robots’ engineering expertise and expands its global network to include established locations and supply chains in all major industry markets. In addition, the company will benefit from thyssenkrupp Automation Engineering’s decades of industry experience and close partnerships with OEMs.   

In turn, the acquisition opens up new opportunities for thyssenkrupp Automation Engineering in high-growth industries such as consumer electronics, medical technology, and logistics.  Customers will benefit from the group's enhanced end-to-end expertise, ranging from industrial robots and autonomous mobile robots to plant integration. Both companies also plan to jointly develop new modular system solutions.  

Long-term prospects  

Dr. Rolf-Günther Nieberding, CEO of thyssenkrupp Automation Engineering: “We are bringing our many years of experience in plant engineering and project execution for demanding processes, mission-critical projects, and global customer structures into a dynamically growing, future-oriented organization. With Agile Robots’ innovations, we can leverage our expertise in the application of robotics, software, and system integration to further enhance the value for our joint customers - while continuing to support the strong growth of the Agile Robots Group.”  

The company was founded in 1950 under the name Johann A. Krause in Bremen and quickly established itself as a key machinery manufacturer for the automotive industry in both the German and European markets. In 1989, Thyssen Industrie AG acquired 100% of the company’s shares and expanded its presence in North America. Today, the company is one of the leading providers of automated production systems.  

The goal is to safeguard and further develop the existing capabilities and the workforce’s strong engineering expertise. Following the acquisition, the company will operate as Krause Automation within the Agile Robots Group.  

The transaction is subject to regulatory approval. Closing is expected within the next months. Both parties have agreed not to disclose the purchase price.  

 

Please find the media kit below:

https://brand.agile-robots.com/share/VNWttMX9KhfcieEdp4KV/folders/2016