Newbility (CEO Lee Sang-min ) , which is developing a last-mile robot-based delivery agency platform, announced on the 21st that it has attracted strategic investment from Kakao Investment . The investment amount is undisclosed .
Newbility and Kakao plan to use this investment by Kakao Investment as an opportunity to build a partnership between the two companies . Newability plans to introduce self-driving robot delivery services in Seoul’s three districts of Gangnam, Yeouido, and Jongno-gu , starting with the Songdo area in Yeonsu-gu, Incheon in October of this year . We are also discussing the introduction of Newbility’s delivery robot service with a number of platform companies , F&B and retail companies .
While most domestic service robot companies are still in the concept or early research stage , Newability is evaluated as being closest to commercialization . Kakao Investment’s strategic investment this time is in line with this evaluation .
Kim Taek-hoon, Vice President of Kakao Investment , who led this investment, said, “Last mile delivery is the most expensive in logistics and is the section where the product experience begins for consumers. ” “It is also recognized by business operators, and we expect that this strategic investment will lead to the most innovative change in the experience of last mile customers . ”
Lee Sang-min, CEO of Newability, said, “Service robots , especially the last mile delivery area, will be the first case where robots are not just a novel future technology, but are established as a realistic solution that solves the needs of the market.” He added, “Newbility’s autonomous driving “We hope to not only develop technology and services so that we can soon encounter the delivery robot ‘Newbie’ in our daily lives , but also solve regulatory and infrastructure issues through cooperation with various players in the industry,” he said .
Meanwhile, Newability provides a new delivery service experience with outdoor self-driving robots in urban areas in Seoul and the metropolitan area , and researches camera-based autonomous driving solutions and robotics technology with the goal of solving the problem of last-mile delivery costs for consumers and sellers. It is under development .
Source: Pangyo Techno Valley Official Newsroom
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