D.R. Horton Shifts to Robotic Home Assembly in Gilbert
The homebuilder signs a multi-year deal to produce 1,250 homes via an automated factory model in the Phoenix area.
Updated on Oct. 29, 2026 in Robotics
Live Poll
Would you feel comfortable buying a home built primarily using robotic factory components?
D.R. Horton has entered a multi-year agreement with startup Promise Robotics to supply 1,250 homes in the Phoenix metropolitan area. Promise Robotics will establish a new production facility in Gilbert to fulfill the contract.
Why it matters
The deal signals a push by major builders to outsource factory-based assembly, allowing companies to scale production capacity without the capital expenditure required to own and operate their own manufacturing plants.
The agreement covers 1,250 homes, representing approximately 1.5% of D.R. Horton’s 2025 closing volume of 84,863 units. Promise Robotics previously demonstrated the model at a 60,000-square-foot facility in Calgary.
The players
D.R. Horton
A national homebuilder that closed 84,863 homes in 2025 and is seeking to mitigate risk through outsourced manufacturing.
Promise Robotics
A startup utilizing a Factory-as-a-Service model that uses industrial robotics and AI to automate home component production.
The details
Promise Robotics uses an AI-driven platform to convert architectural home plans directly into machine code for industrial robots. These robots assemble wall panels in a controlled factory environment, which are then transported to the construction site for installation. This Factory-as-a-Service model aims to increase consistency and reduce construction cycle times compared to traditional on-site framing methods.
Timeline
2023: Promise Robotics raised $15 million in a Series A funding round.
September 2025: Continuous production began at the Calgary factory.
October 13, 2026: The agreement between D.R. Horton and Promise Robotics was announced.
The Tech Race
This partnership addresses the margin compression currently affecting thirteen large homebuilders by offloading capital-intensive manufacturing risks. It marks an expansion of the automated assembly model beyond the company's initial pilot operations in Calgary.
Local residents in the Phoenix metropolitan area can expect to see home components from the new Gilbert facility integrated into housing projects as the factory comes online. The agreement specifically covers 1,250 homes, with no current timeline for when these units will reach the market.
The takeaway
This deal suggests a pivot toward standardized, off-site construction as a viable alternative for high-volume builders. Investors and industry analysts should monitor future production volume targets at the Gilbert site to gauge the viability of this Factory-as-a-Service model at scale.
Further reading
For more on how automation is reshaping construction, visit Robotics.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Fast Company.
Live Poll
Would you feel comfortable buying a home built primarily using robotic factory components?
