Tokyo, Jun 29 (EFE) .- The Japanese company Softbank Robotics announced today that it has suspended production of the iconic robot Pepper, due to lack of demand and waiting to reactivate manufacturing, although its distribution has not stopped.
“The manufacture of new units of the robot stopped last summer due to the number of stocks stored, but it is not the end of Pepper,” explained the head of communications for Softbank Corporation in statements to Efe.
The popular android was created in 2014 by the Japanese technology giant Softbank and since then it has become the image of the group, which markets it in the local market and also in Europe, the United States and China.
“Pepper is an icon and its sales in the Japanese and international markets continue,” said the group’s communications manager, who added that the distribution based on the rental of units has not ceased, waiting to change the business model and be able to “give a new beginning” to the famous android.
Pepper, the white robot with black spheres equipped with artificial intelligence, began its journey in the Japanese market, where it received customers in the group’s telephone stores and shortly afterwards used in the education, health or restaurant chains sectors.
Asked about the number of Pepper in circulation or in stock to date, the aforementioned source indicated that it is a “confidential” figure.
“Softbank Robotics launched this robot, but its cessation does not mean that of the company”, clarified the spokeswoman for this group that continues to bet on the “development of new robots for other sectors such as cleaning and catering.”
In the Japanese archipelago, Pepper is used in Nescafé stores or in Nissan dealerships, also in a dozen branches of the Mizuho bank and in the Hamazushi restaurant chain, where the curvilinear robot welcomes and facilitates the reservation of tables.
Pepper has also revolutionized the concept of a cafeteria in Tokyo where the staff is made up of robots, a showcase strategy that Softbank has used to market these robots in bars and restaurants across the country.
