Samsung Electronics announced its will to expand the robot business, saying that it would focus on the robot platform as a new growth engine.
Samsung Electronics is strengthening its robot business by expanding investment in companies specializing in robot development, following the announcement by Vice Chairman Han Jong-hee, head of the DX Division, that he would focus on the robot business.
On March 21st, at Samsung Electronics Bespoke Life Media Day event held at Community House Masil, Jung-gu, Seoul, Samsung Electronics' DX Division Head and Vice Chairman Han Jong-hee said, "We see robots as another new growth engine and move forward step by step towards it."
“Many engineers at Samsung Research are gathering to create the Samsung robot platform,” said Vice Chairman Han. “This year, the robot business team is preparing for the launch of a product called EX1.”
Regarding the background of the recent acquisition of additional shares of Rainbow Robotics and the timing of the merger and acquisition, he said, “It is a very security matter,” and “It is being done little by little, when asked if mergers and acquisitions are possible within the year."
“We are aiming for mergers and acquisitions within the year, but we will do well because the other company has a position,” he added.
Recently, Samsung Electronics, believing that robots will be a new growth engine, secured a 14.99% stake in robot developer Rainbow Robotics. In addition, there is a possibility of acquiring the company in the future by signing a call option contract with Rainbow Robotics.
“I do not deny that it is becoming a trend” regarding the use of the super-large AI ChatGPT in the home appliance field," Vice Chairman Han said.
He also mentioned the background to the relaunch of OLED (Organic Light Emitting Diode) TVs. Until now, Samsung Electronics has focused on LCD-based QLED TVs, but this year, it launched a new OLED TV in the domestic market after 10 years.
Regarding this, Vice Chairman Han explained, "The biggest concern about OLED for the past 10 years was the 'burn in' problem that leaves afterimages on the screen, but now it has been improved to some extent."
He added, “Consumer tastes have become very diverse, not uniform, and burn-in has improved, so we introduced a lineup because there is no problem with general use.” He added, “We developed a new OLED TV to reflect consumer tastes.”
"There are many reasons for the loss in the previous quarter, such as an increase in logistics costs, an increase in raw material costs, and a decrease in demand, but we are continuing improvement activities using this as a 'big lesson'," regarding the sluggish performance in the fourth quarter of last year, he said. "I'm trying to make it visible."
"In the fourth quarter of last year, the home appliance division of Samsung Electronics recorded an operating loss of 60 billion won in the aftermath of the global economic downturn, recording a loss in seven years," he said.
Regarding the possibility of turning to a surplus, he emphasized, “It is too early to tell specifically when a turnaround is possible, but in the first half of this year, we are trying our best not to make a deficit like last year.”
"As you know, the global economy is not good, but this year, we are trying to overcome this year with energy-related functions and eco-friendly products," he explained.
Regarding the outlook for this year's earnings, he said, "I don't think the damage was that big because household appliances are products that consumers need in their daily lives."
