“China’s humanoid robots are poised to make the leap into factories—and they are pushing into Europe.
These are momentous days for China’s humanoid robots. Some viewers quipped that the state broadcaster’s annual Chinese New Year Gala had effectively turned into a product showcase for these human-shaped robots. On Tuesday, state television followed up with another martial arts demonstration featuring the robots in front of the Temple of Heaven in Beijing. And then, on Thursday, Friedrich Merz (CDU)—the first Western government leader to do so—is visiting one of the manufacturers.
The industry is currently in the growth phase that electric vehicles were in just a few years ago. There are reportedly between 150 and 200 manufacturers operating within the People's Republic. This week alone saw two major funding rounds, valuing the startups AI Robotics (based in Shenzhen) and Spirit AI at a combined total of over one billion euros.
Humanoid robots are one of President Xi Jinping’s favorite industries and are set to feature prominently in the 15th Five-Year Plan, which Beijing is scheduled to adopt in early March.
Their mission is to boost productivity in China’s countless factories and, in a few years—as the country’s population ages rapidly—to take over the jobs for which there will no longer be enough human workers.
Consequently, local governments across the country are going all out to cultivate local industry champions. Subsidies and investments from regional funds are flowing freely. According to Morgan Stanley, Beijing, Shenzhen, and other cities have established investment funds totaling 26 billion dollars.
Last year, according to estimates, between 13,000 and 16,000 units were sold worldwide—80 to 90 percent of which were "Made in China." Elon Musk—who is also working on a humanoid robot project named Optimus—views the sector as a "Tesla vs. China" competition: "As far as we know, we don't see any significant competitors outside of China," he stated in January.
As a leader Among Chinese companies, Unitree stands out—a firm that has mastered marketing and showmanship better than almost any of its competitors. It was the robots from this startup, based in the metropolis of Hangzhou, that performed spectacular kung fu routines at the New Year’s Gala—marking their third appearance at the event. And it is Unitree that Merz is set to visit.
For Chinese companies aspiring to become global players, their relationship with the Chinese state poses a core strategic question. Some prefer to keep their distance in order to remain palatable to Western markets. Others—and Unitree counts itself among them—harbor no such reservations. Beyond serving as a marketing tool—according to the Chinese business magazine *Caixin*, Unitree paid hundreds of millions of RMB for its performance slots—these gala appearances also serve the purposes of state propaganda. Indeed, the company’s robotic dogs are already being deployed by the Chinese military in training exercises. Early last year, founder Wang Xingxing attended a symposium hosted by President Xi Jinping—an event intended to signal the President’s renewed goodwill toward the private sector. Merz’s upcoming visit further demonstrates that Unitree does not shy away from the political stage.
It is often said of many Chinese tech founders that they were top of their class even as children. This narrative, however, does not apply to Wang, who was born in 1990. He was neither particularly conspicuous nor outgoing; rather, he was somewhat introverted, according to a former teacher quoted by the *South China Morning Post*. His poor grades in English ultimately barred his path to the country’s most prestigious universities. Wang pursued his studies in Shanghai and Hangzhou, where he developed his very first robotic dog. Shortly after joining DJI—the world’s largest drone manufacturer, based in Shenzhen—a video of his robotic dog went viral. He quit his job after just a few months and, a decade ago, founded Unitree.
Thanks to these robotic dogs, the company is today one of the few in its industry considered to be profitable. As Unitree has been preparing for an initial public offering (IPO) for several months now, certain financial data regarding the company has been made public. In 2024, the company’s revenue exceeded 100 million euros—two-thirds of which was generated by the four-legged models, and one-third by the two-legged ones. Among the investors are China’s largest conglomerates, including Alibaba, Tencent, and the automotive group Geely.
"Unitree’s robots are by far the most affordable," says Georg Stieler, a technology consultant specializing in robotics. The least expensive models are available for less than 5,000 euros.
While competitors sometimes scoff that the robots lack attention to detail and appear to have been somewhat hastily bolted together, Stieler notes that founder Wang is no Steve Jobs. On the other hand, the robots are inexpensive and readily available. Unitree is "very promising," says Stieler. In response to an interview request from the *F.A.Z.*, a company spokesperson replied that the timing was currently not quite right.
Last year, Unitree sold approximately 5,000 humanoid units. According to Stieler, Agibot—a competitor based in Shanghai—is running roughly neck and neck. He places UBTech, based in Shenzhen, in third place, with one thousand bipedal robots sold.
Agibot was founded only in 2023 and has experienced a meteoric rise since then. Its investors include major corporations such as BYD and Tencent. The company’s CEO is Deng Taihua, a former Vice President at Huawei. However, co-founder Peng Zhihui attracts even more attention; currently in his early thirties, he previously participated in a Huawei development program focused on chip design. He also works as a tech influencer on the side; nearly three million people follow him on Bilibili—China’s equivalent of YouTube.
According to Stieler, Agibot distinguishes itself from Unitree through its superior AI capabilities. The company develops its own AI models, whereas—in Stieler’s view—Unitree appears to do less in this regard.
Stieler identifies intelligence—and the ability to perceive the world—as the true challenge. "It’s easy to teach a robot to do a backflip." However, he notes, it is far more difficult to place it in a room and expect it to navigate autonomously—for instance, by grasping disposable water cups in such a way that they are not crushed.
Agibot is currently attempting to expand globally. Coinciding with the Winter Olympics, the company showcased its products in Milan. This Tuesday, a presentation was held in Munich as part of an effort to capture the European market. The company did not respond to an inquiry from the *F.A.Z.* on Tuesday. In a post on X, the company stated that its goal is to "maximize human productivity." Stieler remains skeptical as to whether this expansion will succeed. "It depends heavily on the broader geopolitical climate." He notes that while hardware from China is frequently utilized in many factories, "I’m skeptical when it comes to sensors and cameras." In those areas, he argues, security concerns remain too significant.
One thing is clear: productivity is the central issue. Can these robots do more than just dance—can they actually replace human labor on a massive scale in factories? Trials are currently underway across the country, for instance at automakers such as BYD and Geely. Data from Unitree, however, suggests that entertainment still plays a significantly larger role for now. While robotic dogs are indeed being deployed in industrial applications—such as inspection and firefighting—for about one-fifth of their use cases, the company reports that its humanoid robots are currently utilized exclusively in research, education, and entertainment.
Consequently, some dismiss humanoid robots as mere hype; Stieler, however, is more optimistic. "I like to compare it to a gold rush," says Stieler. "The safest bet is probably to back the ones selling the shovels." One thing, however, is clear: "China is extremely well-positioned."
Yet, even if this is a hype fueled by propaganda, it is having a tangible impact on the general public. Millions of Chinese people have already encountered humanoid robots in their daily lives. To them, these machines appear less like a threat to their own jobs—or even to humanity as a whole—and more like harmless, expensive toys. In China, anyone interested can already rent robots today: robotic dogs are available starting at the equivalent of ten euros per day, while humanoid robots cost just over 200 euros—though that price includes a dedicated technician thrown in as a bonus.” [1]
1. Friedrich Merz besucht das Land der Roboter. Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung; Frankfurt. 25 Feb 2026: 18. Von Gustav Theile, Shanghai
Komentarų nėra:
Rašyti komentarą