Unitree Robotics, a leading developer of humanoid and quadruped robots, made its public market debut in Shanghai on Wednesday, with shares surging more than 600% from their listing price.
The stock opened at 150.80 yuan and climbed to an intraday peak of 1,100 yuan before paring gains ahead of the midday trading break. At its highest valuation, Unitree’s market capitalization exceeded $50 billion, underscoring investor enthusiasm for the company’s robotic technologies.
The listing occurred as Chinese equities faced broader declines, with the Shanghai Composite and the CSI 300 index both falling more than 2% on the same day. Unitree’s rally stood in contrast to the broader market downturn, highlighting the company’s perceived growth potential in the robotics sector.
Backed by major Chinese technology firms including Alibaba, Tencent, and AI startup DeepSeek, Unitree has positioned itself as a global leader in advanced robotics. The company unveiled its latest humanoid robot, “Superman,” ahead of its listing, claiming the model can jump two meters from a standing position and outpace human running speeds. Unitree has previously gained international attention for its acrobatic robotic demonstrations.
The debut follows another high-profile Shanghai listing last month by memory chipmaker CXMT, underscoring the exchange’s recent focus on high-growth technology companies. However, Unitree’s listing took place amid escalating U.S.-China tensions over AI and robotics, including a July ban by Washington on imports of foreign-made humanoid and quadruped robots—a move that could restrict Unitree’s access to a key market.
Despite regulatory headwinds, Unitree’s offerings are viewed as more advanced than those from U.S. competitors such as Boston Dynamics and Tesla, further fueling investor interest in its public debut.
