SoftBank to start selling Pepper the ’emotional’ robot in U.S.

By Trevor Mogg Published September 3, 2014

SoftBank said Tuesday it’s going to start selling its Pepper robot in the US by summer 2015.

The Japanese company, better known for its telecoms and Internet business than for robots, unveiled Pepper in Tokyo back in June, touting the android for its ability to understand people’s emotions and communicate in a human-like manner.

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In the US, Pepper will go on sale at SoftBank’s Sprint stores, though its dollar price and exact launch date are yet to be announced. Consumers in Japan can pick up a Pepper from February, though it’ll cost them 198,000 yen ($1900).

‘Emotion engines’

Besides what looks like a tablet strapped to its chest, Pepper comes loaded with sensors that work with “emotion engines” to help it make sense of its interactions with humans. The robot will also connect with the cloud to exchange data with other Peppers around the world to help it develop and hone its emotional responses.

At its unveiling a few months ago, SoftBank boss Masayoshi Son said the 120-centimeter-tall robot can “make jokes, dance and amuse people thanks to a wide variety of entertainment capabilities,” adding, “For the first time in human history, we’re giving a robot a heart, emotions.”

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French robotic specialist Aldebaran and Japanese firm Yoshimoto Robotics Laboratory collaborated with SoftBank to develop Pepper, which is currently helping to serve customers at two of the carrier’s stores in Tokyo.

Pepper’s launch marks SoftBank’s push into new markets as it seeks to establish additional revenue streams. Soon after the bot was unveiled, the company created SoftBank Robotics, a subsidiary charged with pushing the new business forward.

The global robotics market is expected to expand at a rapid rate in the coming years, with some estimates putting its value at $120 billion by 2025.

For consumers and businesses

SoftBank Robotics boss Fumihide Tomizawa told Bloomberg this week that he expected sales of Pepper to be split fairly evenly between consumers and businesses.

He added that SoftBank has, in the past few months, received as many as 400 Pepper-related inquiries from businesses in finance, food, and education, though it’s unclear if the companies want Pepper to work in reception, perform duties in the workplace, or simply entertain the troops during lunch breaks. All will be revealed some time next year.

[Source: Bloomberg]

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Contributing Editor

Not so many moons ago, Trevor moved from one tea-loving island nation that drives on the left (Britain) to another (Japan)…

Cars

EVs top gas cars in German reliability report — but one weak spot won’t quit

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Electric vehicles are quietly crushing old stereotypes about being delicate or unreliable, and the data now backs it up in a big way. According to Germany’s ADAC — Europe’s largest roadside assistance provider — EVs are actually more reliable than their internal combustion engine (ICE) counterparts. And this isn’t just a small study — it’s based on a staggering 3.6 million breakdowns in 2024 alone.
For cars registered between 2020 and 2022, EVs averaged just 4.2 breakdowns per 1,000 vehicles, while ICE cars saw more than double that, at 10.4 per 1,000. Even with more EVs hitting the road, they only accounted for 1.2% of total breakdowns — a big win for the battery-powered crowd.
Among standout performers, some cars delivered exceptionally low breakdown rates. The Audi A4 clocked in at just 0.4 breakdowns per 1,000 vehicles for 2022 models, with Tesla’s Model 3 right behind at 0.5. The Volkswagen ID.4, another popular EV, also impressed with a rate of 1.0 – as did the Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross at 1.3. On the flip side, there were some major outliers: the Hyundai Ioniq 5 showed a surprisingly high 22.4 breakdowns per 1,000 vehicles for its 2022 models, while the hybrid Toyota RAV4 posted 18.4.
Interestingly, the most common issue for both EVs and ICE vehicles was exactly the same: the humble 12-volt battery. Despite all the futuristic tech in EVs, it’s this old-school component that causes 50% of all EV breakdowns, and 45% for gas-powered cars. Meanwhile, EVs shine in categories like engine management and electrical systems — areas where traditional engines are more complex and failure-prone.
But EVs aren’t completely flawless. They had a slightly higher rate of tire-related issues — 1.3 breakdowns per 1,000 vehicles compared to 0.9 for ICE cars. That could be due to their heavier weight and high torque, which can accelerate tire wear. Still, this trend is fading in newer EVs as tire tech and vehicle calibration improve.
Now, zooming out beyond Germany: a 2024 Consumer Reports study in the U.S. painted a different picture. It found that EVs, especially newer models, had more reliability issues than gas cars, citing tech glitches and inconsistent build quality. But it’s worth noting that the American data focused more on owner-reported problems, not just roadside breakdowns.
So, while the long-term story is still developing, especially for older EVs, Germany’s data suggests that when it comes to simply keeping you on the road, EVs are pulling ahead — quietly, efficiently, and with far fewer breakdowns than you might expect.

Cars

You can now lease a Hyundai EV on Amazon—and snag that $7,500 tax credit

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Amazon has changed how we shop for just about everything—from books to furniture to groceries. Now, it’s transforming the way we lease cars. Through Amazon Autos, you can now lease a brand-new Hyundai entirely online—and even better, you’ll qualify for the full $7,500 federal tax credit if you choose an electric model like the Ioniq 5, Ioniq 6, or Kona EV.
Here’s why that matters: As of January 2025, Hyundai’s EVs no longer qualify for the tax credit if you buy them outright, due to strict federal rules about battery sourcing and final assembly. But when you lease, the vehicle is technically owned by the leasing company (Hyundai Capital), which allows it to be classified as a “commercial vehicle” under U.S. tax law—making it eligible for the credit. That savings is typically passed on to you in the form of lower lease payments.
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Pioneered by the likes of Tesla, purchasing or leasing vehicles online has been a growing trend since the Covid pandemic.
A 2024 study by iVendi found that 74% of car buyers expect to use some form of online process for their next purchase. In fact, 75% said online buying met or exceeded expectations, with convenience and access to information cited as top reasons. The 2024 EY Mobility Consumer Index echoed this trend, reporting that 25% of consumers now plan to buy their next vehicle online—up from 18% in 2021. Even among those who still prefer to finalize the purchase at a dealership, 87% use online tools for research beforehand.
Meanwhile, Deloitte’s 2025 Global Automotive Consumer Study reveals that while 86% of U.S. consumers still want to test-drive a vehicle in person, digital tools are now a critical part of the buying journey.
Bottom line? Amazon is making it easier than ever to lease an EV and claim that tax credit—without the dealership hassle. If you're ready to plug in, it might be time to add to cart.

Emerging Tech

Humanoid robots race against humans at unique half-marathon in China

A humanoid robot running in a half marathon.

You may have seen robots dancing like the music icon Mick Jagger, doing parkour, or even painting on a canvas. Tesla’s Optimus humanoid robot is eagerly anticipated, while Google and Meta are also planning to enter the field. The competition in the East, however, is on a different level altogether.

China just put humanoid robots to the test in the world’s first race of its kind, where they ran alongside humans in a half-marathon. A total of 21 robots lined up for the event in the Yizhuang half-marathon, following a long spell of supervised learning on roads.