By Ko Terada / Yomiuri Shimbun Staff Writer
A quadrupedal robot by Kawasaki Heavy Industries Ltd. will hit the market as early as 2035, the firm announced Wednesday. The firm exhibited the robot, Corleo, at the 2025 Osaka-Kansai Expo as a future mobility solution. Intended for numerous applications, including in mountainous terrain and in the gaming and e-sports fields, the company projects the business will grow to 300 billion yen by 2040.
The price is yet to be decided. Expertise from the firm's motorcycle business is being applied to progress its development.
The robot runs on a hydrogen engine powered by hydrogen fuel and features rubber-tipped "hooves" on its legs. It has a seat on its back where a person can ride, moving in response to shifts in the rider's weight, providing a sensation similar to horseback riding. It aims to be a comfortable means of transportation on rocky terrain and other conditions where it is difficult to drive vehicles with tires.
The strong response at the Expo led to the decision to commercialize it. "We don't intend to stop at the Expo; we want to develop this into a major business in a new field," said Kawasaki Heavy Industries President Yasuhiko Hashimoto during a press conference at the International Robot Exhibition 2025 in Tokyo on the day.
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December 03, 2025 23:30 ET (04:30 GMT)
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