Warehouse automation leader Symbotic has acquired autonomous forklift specialist Fox Robotics, broadening its capabilities beyond integrated storage systems into mobile material handling equipment. The move, announced during Symbotic’s Q1 2026 earnings call, aims to expand the company’s addressable market while providing access to new customer segments.
The acquisition brings autonomous forklift technology that complements Symbotic’s existing warehouse automation systems. Fox Robotics manufactures self-driving forklifts designed to load and unload trailers in automated environments, increasing workplace productivity while reducing environmental impact. The technology addresses dock automation, a market segment substantially larger than traditional warehouse automation.
Fox Robotics currently operates over 100 FoxBot autonomous forklifts across 54 customer sites throughout the United States and Canada. These deployments include both existing Symbotic customers and new accounts, providing entry points into facilities that may not require full warehouse automation systems but still seek efficiency improvements through autonomous material handling.
Walmart,its largest customer has adopted Fox Robotics technology alongside Symbotic systems. After a 16-month pilot program, Walmart deployed 19 autonomous forklifts across four high-tech distribution centers. This existing relationship demonstrates compatibility between the technologies and validates their combined value proposition.
The acquisition enables Symbotic to sell guided forklifts to a broader customer base than its integrated warehouse systems typically reach. While Symbotic’s full automation installations require significant capital investment and facility modification, autonomous forklifts can be deployed incrementally with lower barriers to adoption. This creates pathways for smaller engagements that may expand into comprehensive automation projects.
