Mobileye to buy humanoid robot maker Mentee for $900 million

Mobileye is acquiring Israeli startup Mentee Robotics in a cash-and-stock deal valued at $900 million, expected to close in the first quarter of 2026; Mentee will operate independently for at least two years and gain access to Mobileye's customer base.

Mobileye Global Inc. is acquiring Israeli startup Mentee Robotics in a cash-and-stock deal valued at $900 million. The agreement includes $612 million in cash and up to 26,229,714 shares of Mobileye Class A common stock, and is expected to close in the first quarter of 2026. Mentee is to operate independently for at least two years and will gain access to Mobileye's customer base. The two firms share founders, including Amnon Shashua, who recused himself from the decision; the deal was approved by Mobileye's board and its largest shareholder, Intel. Key details: - Deal valued at $900 million, comprising $612 million in cash plus up to 26,229,714 Mobileye Class A shares. - The transaction is expected to close in the first quarter of 2026. - Both companies were co-founded by Amnon Shashua; he recused himself from the approval and the deal was approved by Mobileye's board and Intel. - Mentee was founded in 2022, employs fewer than 100 people, has raised about $50 million to date, and will operate independently for at least two years while gaining access to Mobileye's customers. - The article mentions Mobileye shares were up 2.5% at the close of trading on Monday. Summary: The acquisition brings a young humanoid robotics startup under Mobileye's ownership as the company expands its robotics interests alongside automotive work. According to the article, Mentee will begin rolling out humanoids for fulfillment centers and factories and aims to develop household humanoids by the end of the decade. The deal is expected to close in the first quarter of 2026, and the article notes that technical and cost challenges for humanoid robots remain.