Agility Robotics has established a new 60,000-square-foot facility in Fremont, California, to accelerate the development of artificial intelligence technologies that power its Digit humanoid robot. The facility will serve as the company's software and capabilities hub, housing nearly 200 employees across hardware engineering, AI and machine learning software, and field operations. This expansion comes as Agility prepares for its planned initial public offering via a merger with Churchill Capital Corp XI, which would make it the first publicly listed pure-play humanoid robotics company in the United States.

Why Is Agility Investing in a Silicon Valley Presence?

Agility's decision to establish its AI development hub in Fremont reflects the company's need to tap into one of the world's most concentrated talent pools for artificial intelligence and machine learning expertise. The location puts the company at the center of Silicon Valley's innovation ecosystem, enabling faster development cycles and immediate deployment of new capabilities to customers. Agility is already operationally deploying humanoids in real enterprise environments, a distinction that sets it apart from many competitors still in the research phase.

"Being in the heart of Silicon Valley brings us into one of the world's leading AI talent and innovation ecosystems, allowing us to develop new capabilities for Digit faster and put them to work for customers immediately," said Peggy Johnson, Chief Executive Officer of Agility.

Peggy Johnson, Chief Executive Officer at Agility Robotics

The Fremont facility complements Agility's existing RoboFab manufacturing operations in Salem, Oregon, creating a two-hub strategy where manufacturing and AI development operate in tandem. This geographic separation allows the company to maintain production efficiency on the West Coast while concentrating software innovation talent in Silicon Valley.

What Commercial Demand Is Driving This Expansion?

Agility's expansion is being driven by substantial commercial traction. The company has already secured more than $300 million in multi-year orders for Digit v5, its latest generation humanoid robot, subject to contractual milestones. Beyond these confirmed orders, Agility reports a growing pipeline of over 30 customers preparing to deploy humanoid robots at scale.

Current deployments span major enterprises across logistics, automotive, and e-commerce sectors. The companies already using Agility's humanoids include:

• Schaeffler: A manufacturer of precision devices and systems for automotive, aerospace, and industrial sectors
• GXO: A contract logistics provider managing warehouse and distribution operations
• Toyota Motor Manufacturing Canada: Deploying humanoids in manufacturing facilities
• Mercado Libre: A Mexican e-commerce and fintech network using robots in fulfillment operations

These deployments demonstrate that Digit is moving beyond proof-of-concept demonstrations into sustained, revenue-generating operations. The Fremont facility is essential to meeting current demand and accelerating the pace at which new capabilities can be delivered to this growing customer base.

How Will Agility Use the Fremont Hub to Improve Digit's Capabilities?

The Fremont facility will function as a dedicated innovation center where engineering teams train, test, and advance the AI technologies that enable Digit to learn new skills and perform increasingly complex tasks in customer environments. Rather than developing capabilities in isolation, Agility's teams will work directly with deployment data from active customer sites, creating a feedback loop that accelerates improvement cycles.

The focus areas for the Fremont hub include:

• AI Training and Testing: Engineering teams will develop and refine machine learning models that teach Digit to handle new tasks and adapt to different warehouse and manufacturing environments
• Safety and Productivity Optimization: Continuous improvement of safety standards and productivity metrics based on real-world deployment data from customer sites
• Hardware-Software Integration: Close collaboration between hardware engineers and software teams to ensure AI capabilities are optimized for Digit's physical platform
• Field Operations Support: Direct coordination with teams managing customer deployments to identify capability gaps and prioritize development efforts

"Being one of the only companies operationally deploying humanoids in real enterprise environments, our Fremont facility will play a critical role in driving innovation that anticipates and delivers on the capabilities our customers need," Johnson stated.

Peggy Johnson, Chief Executive Officer at Agility Robotics

This approach differs from traditional robotics development, where capabilities are often designed in labs and then tested in customer environments. Agility's model leverages live deployment data to inform development priorities, potentially accelerating the pace at which Digit can take on more complex and varied tasks.

What Does This Mean for Agility's Path to Going Public?

The Fremont expansion represents a significant capital investment ahead of Agility's planned initial public offering through a merger with Churchill Capital Corp XI. The company is expanding its physical footprint and headcount at a time when it is preparing to become a publicly traded company, signaling confidence in its ability to execute on customer commitments and generate returns for shareholders.

The timing of this expansion also reflects the company's assessment that demand for humanoid robots in enterprise environments is accelerating faster than previously anticipated. By securing talent and infrastructure now, Agility is positioning itself to capture market share during what the company views as a critical growth phase for the humanoid robotics industry.

Fremont Mayor Raj Salwan welcomed the investment, noting that Agility's decision to establish its hub in the city reflects the region's strengths in talent, innovation, and advanced manufacturing. The facility is expected to bring approximately 200 high-quality jobs to Fremont's Ardenwood neighborhood, contributing to the local economy and reinforcing the region's position as a center for robotics and AI development.