Vingroup of Southeast Asia’s richest man Pham Nhat Vuong to invest $13M in US humanoid robot venture

The Vietnamese conglomerate said May 29 it would acquire stakes to the U.S.-based company as part of efforts to streamline its overseas investment structure. The investment will be done through VinMotion, Vingroup’s robotics research and development subsidiary.

The project will focus on developing humanoid robots and related technologies. Vingroup also plans to establish a research and development center in the U.S. to attract global talent.

It first announced its entry into robotics in 2024. Before launching VinMotion USA, it had invested in three robotics companies: VinDynamics, VinRobotics, and VinMotion.

According to Vingroup’s annual report, VinMotion launched two humanoid robots in 2025, while VinDynamics is developing a robotics platform for household and security applications.

VinRobotics has, meanwhile, developed an artificial intelligence-powered industrial robotics platform, and says it has mastered 90% of the product’s core technologies. It has signed two contracts worth about VND52 billion (US$1.9 million) to supply robots to VinFast electric vehicles factories, with delivery expected to start later this year.

Founded in Ukraine in 1993 by billionaire Pham Nhat Vuong, Southeast Asia’s richest person, Vingroup has interests in electric vehicles, technology, real estate, infrastructure, energy, and steel.

It targets revenues of VND485 trillion this year, up nearly 46% from 2025, and expects after-tax profits to nearly triple to VND35 trillion.

U.S. magazine Forbes estimated Vuong’s net worth at $33.2 billion as of May 31.