Agility Robotics began trading on the Nasdaq on November 5, 2026, becoming the first company dedicated to humanoid robots to be publicly traded in the United States, Ars Technica reports. The listing came through a merger with a special purpose acquisition company, and the paperwork gives an unusually detailed look at what a working humanoid costs. Agility’s own filing also warns that humanoid robots remain unproven at scale.
What Agility is selling
The Salem, Oregon company makes Digit, a bipedal robot built to move totes and do manual work in warehouses and factories. Ars Technica says Agility was the first to reach full-time commercial humanoid deployment at a customer warehouse, in 2024. Named customers include logistics firm GXO, which is expanding Digit beyond a Georgia warehouse to sites in North Carolina and Tennessee, Schaeffler’s South Carolina factory and Toyota Motor Manufacturing Canada.
Agility says its next model, Digit 5, arrives in 2027. Per the report it has swappable end-effector “hands,” can lift loads up to 50 pounds and can work more than 20 hours in a 24-hour period thanks to fast charging. The battery, built with UK firm Nyobolt, delivers 90 minutes of runtime from nine minutes of charging, and an onboard safety system detects nearby people and can stand still or squat.
The unit economics in the filing
The numbers come from an S-4 registration statement filed with the SEC on September 4 and describe “illustrative” economics, not audited results. Two models appear:
| Model | Up-front cost | Recurring cost |
|---|---|---|
| Robots as a service | about $25,000 per robot for delivery and deployment | $8,500 per month for software and maintenance |
| Ownership | $200,000 hardware plus $20,000 delivery and deployment | $36,000 a year (about $3,000 a month) for software and maintenance |
Co-founder Jonathan Hurst told Ars that the subscription model lowers risk for customers because the rate is comparable to the human labor rate, so they see a return from day one. That claim is Agility’s own and has not been independently tested.
How it compares with other robot makers
Few rivals publish comparable data. Ars notes that most humanoid startups are private and far less forthcoming, with one exception: China’s Unitree, which listed on the Shanghai Stock Exchange’s STAR Market in August 2026. For context on the wider robot market, see our coverage of Amazon’s push past one million warehouse robots, and for background on how these machines work, our explainer on humanoid robots.
A simple comparison shows what investors will weigh. At $8,500 a month, a subscribed Digit costs about $102,000 a year before the up-front fee. Whether that beats human labor depends on the shifts it covers, how often it needs help and what wages are in each region. The filing does not settle those questions, and neither do we.
What it means for the market
A public listing forces regular disclosure: revenue, losses, deployment counts and customer concentration will now be reported on a schedule. That should give the sector its first reliable benchmarks, and it exposes humanoids to the same scrutiny as any other hardware business. Policy is a factor as well. A recent presidential proclamation on robot imports, covered in our report on the Section 232 action, affects how imported robots and components are treated.
What to watch next
- Agility’s first quarterly results as a public company, and the number of robots actually deployed.
- Whether customers beyond GXO, Schaeffler and Toyota’s Canadian plant sign multi-site deals.
- Whether Digit 5 ships on schedule in 2027.
- How the share price reacts as the filing’s risk factors are digested.
- Whether other humanoid makers follow with listings or publish their own pricing.
Key takeaways
- Agility is the first dedicated humanoid developer to trade on a US exchange.
- The filing prices service use at $8,500 a month plus roughly $25,000 up front.
- Buying outright costs $200,000 plus $20,000 delivery, with $36,000 a year in fees.
- Agility itself warns that humanoids are unproven at scale.
- Customer ROI claims come from the company, not independent studies.
Frequently asked questions
When did Agility Robotics start trading?
Trading on the Nasdaq began on November 5, 2026, following a merger with a special purpose acquisition company.
How much does a Digit robot cost?
Under the filing’s illustrative models, $8,500 a month plus about $25,000 up front as a service, or $200,000 to buy plus $20,000 delivery and $36,000 a year in fees.
What does Digit do?
Digit is a bipedal humanoid that handles manual tasks like moving totes in warehouses and factories for customers such as GXO, Schaeffler and Toyota Canada.
