China’s robotics sector is drawing parallels to its rapid ascent in electric vehicles after the blockbuster debut of humanoid robot maker Unitree Robotics, whose shares surged sevenfold on their first trading day.
At the World Robot Conference in Beijing this week, more than 300 companies displayed over 2,000 exhibits, including 150 new products, highlighting the industry’s expanding capabilities. State Secretary Xi Guobin of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology reaffirmed government backing, calling robotics a key driver of China’s economic development.
Startups and established firms alike showcased applications ranging from logistics to education. Robotera, a Shenzhen-based startup, demonstrated a humanoid torso mounted on a three-wheeled base capable of sorting packages for up to 1,000 consecutive hours with 85% of human efficiency. DexForce exhibited a unit packaging smartphones, while UBTECH unveiled a robot designed to deliver English lessons and monitor university exams.
The sector’s momentum follows Unitree’s record-breaking IPO, which analysts view as a milestone for China’s ambitions to lead in robotics and artificial intelligence. Several other companies are preparing public listings, including Lumos Robotics and Chery’s AiMOGA robotics division. AiMOGA’s recent deployment of robotic traffic police in multiple Chinese cities underscores demand in regions with extreme weather or high pollution, such as Southeast Asia and the Middle East, where officials face operational challenges.
Despite progress, commercial adoption remains limited to pilot projects. Analyst Georg Stieler estimates that 50-70% of robots produced this year will operate in data-factories, collecting training data rather than manufacturing consumer goods. AiMOGA’s CEO Zhang Guibing acknowledged intense competition but noted it could accelerate technological advancement, though widespread use of humanoid robots may still require a decade.
