China's humanoid robots captivated global audiences with impressive kung fu flips during the televised Spring Festival Gala.
Phone maker Honor plans to unveil its first humanoid robot at MWC in Spain, signaling rapid industry momentum.
China's Manufacturing and Policy Advantage
The nation's robotics push stems from the Made in China 2025 initiative, originally for factory automation but now fueling embodied AI amid labor shortages.
A robust hardware supply chain, built through the EV sector for sensors and batteries, enables Chinese firms to iterate faster than Western competitors.
Last year, global humanoid robot shipments reached 13,317 units, led by China's Agibot and Unitree, with Unitree shipping 36 times more than U.S. rivals Figure and Tesla.
Shift to Real-World Operations
The industry is transitioning from demo spectacles to operations-driven adoption, with customers demanding stable performance in factories and services.
Companies like Galbot raised over $300 million at a $3 billion valuation, while Unitree hit $3 billion post-Series C, eyeing a $7 billion IPO.
Challenges and Global Comparisons
Despite hardware advances, software lags with nascent AI models struggling on data scarcity and real-world predictions.
Safety concerns could spur regulations, limiting initial growth to contained environments like manufacturing and logistics.
Compared to Japan's eldercare focus and U.S. deployment ambitions, China's speed-to-scale from policy and capital gives it an early lead.
Future Impact and Projections
Shipments are projected to nearly double annually, reaching 2.6 million units by 2035, boosting productivity amid aging populations.
This dominance could reshape global labor markets, accelerating automation in industrial and consumer sectors worldwide.
Andrew Lee
