Apptronik Gears Up Apollo Humanoid Production with Jabil Partnership, Teases Upgrades

Apptronik Bets on Manufacturing Might and Human-Centered Design for Apollo Humanoid

Apptronik, the Austin-based robotics company spun out of the University of Texas, is gearing up for the next phase of its Apollo humanoid robot, emphasizing robustness, manufacturability, and a human-centric approach as it navigates the increasingly competitive landscape.

In a recent discussion on the Tech First podcast, CEO Jeff Cardenas outlined the company's strategy, highlighting key developments including upcoming Apollo iterations, strategic partnerships, and the philosophy driving their design.

Refining Apollo for the Real World

While the first version of Apollo was unveiled in September 2023, Cardenas revealed that new, improved versions are in development and slated for announcement later this year. He remained coy on specific performance upgrades but indicated significant work has focused on creating a more stable, robust, and scalable platform.

Key improvements mentioned include a larger, swappable battery to enable continuous operation, enhanced system robustness honed through iterative actuator design (over 60 iterations mentioned), and a refined focus on dexterous manipulation, moving beyond simpler tasks like box-moving. Cardenas stressed the importance of avoiding "premature scaling," ensuring the robot's core systems are reliable before mass deployment.

"You really got to make sure that you get that system right before you start to ramp it and scale it," Cardenas stated, acknowledging the risks of scaling an unstable product.

Scaling Up: Funding and Manufacturing Muscle

Scaling production is central to Apptronik's plans. Cardenas confirmed backing from significant investors, including mentions of Google, Mercedes-Benz, B Capital, and Texas-based Capital Factory, providing the resources needed for growth. While specific recent funding amounts discussed in the podcast interview could not be independently verified for Apptronik, the caliber of investors underscores the confidence in the company's direction.

If we really are going to ramp up we need to really learn about how to do manufacturing right and do it at scale.

Critically, Apptronik recently announced a strategic partnership with Jabil, a global manufacturing giant with extensive facilities and expertise. This collaboration aims to leverage Jabil's scale to build, test, and deploy Apollo robots efficiently.

"We need to really learn about how to do manufacturing right and do it at scale," Cardenas explained. The partnership provides manufacturing capacity and flexibility, potentially allowing production shifts between locations like Mexico and the US to navigate trade complexities.

This approach mirrors strategies used by companies like Apple, outsourcing large-scale manufacturing to focus internal resources on core technology and design – in Apptronik's case, the robot platform itself and the AI driving it.

Robots for Humans: The Guiding Philosophy

Apptronik emphasizes a "Robots for Humans" philosophy, rooted in its origins in UT Austin's Human Centered Robotics Lab. Cardenas draws parallels to Apple's impact on personal computing, aiming to create robots that are not just functional but are designed to be helpers that humans "actually want to be around."

We're on team human. This only matters if it improves the way we live and work

This manifests in Apollo's friendlier aesthetic and a focus on collaboration, including partnerships like the one with Google DeepMind, aimed at developing AI responsibly. "We're on team human," Cardenas asserted. "This is only interesting to me, such that it improves the way that we live and work in the future."

Navigating the Humanoid Race

Cardenas acknowledged the rapid acceleration in humanoid robotics, driven by breakthroughs in AI that allow robots to learn rather than being strictly pre-programmed. He framed the field as a "global race" akin to the space race, particularly between the US and China, with significant national implications.

I call this the space race of our time.

Regarding timelines, Cardenas projected that while pilots are underway, 2025 will focus on proving commercial viability. Meaningful commercial uptake, initially in industrial settings (logistics, manufacturing), is anticipated in the latter half of 2026. Subsequent phases involve deploying robots in public-facing roles (retail, hospitality, healthcare) before eventually reaching the home and elder care market, which Cardenas sees as a major long-term opportunity but likely five or more years away due to safety and reliability hurdles.

Apptronik's strategy—combining iterative hardware refinement, strategic manufacturing partnerships, significant backing, and a human-centered design ethos—positions it as a serious contender in the quest to bring capable humanoid robots out of the lab and into the workforce.

See the podcast episode here: