Chinese humanoid makers steal the show during the World Robot Conference

China, already a global powerhouse in electric vehicles (EVs), is now setting its sights on another high-tech frontier: humanoid robots. At the World Robot Conference in Beijing this week, more than two dozen Chinese companies showcased advanced humanoid robots designed for factory and warehouse operations. Numerous other companies displayed the precision components essential for the creation of these robots.

China's current traction in the humanoid robotics industry can be attributed to the same factors that powered its EV boom over a decade ago—strong government backing, intense price competition from numerous new players, and an extensive domestic supply chain.

"China's humanoid robot industry demonstrates clear advantages in supply-chain integration (and) mass production capabilities," said Arjen Rao, an analyst at China-based LeadLeo Research Institute.

The initiative also aligns with President Xi Jinping's broader policy of fostering "new productive forces" in technology, which has seen Beijing launch a $1.4 billion state-backed fund dedicated to robotics. In July, Shanghai also announced plans to launch a $1.4 billion humanoid industry fund.

The investments are part of China's larger goal to dominate the global robotics market which Goldman Sachs has predicted to reach $38 billion annually by 2035, with companies shipping nearly 1.4 million units units.

Currently, the cost of assembling a complete humanoid is estimated to be $150,000 excluding research and development costs. It’s less expensive than a few years ago, but experts believe it can be cheaper.

"There is big room to squeeze the cost down," said Hu Debo, CEO of Shanghai Kepler Exploration Robotics, a company he co-founded last year inspired by Tesla's humanoid robot Optimus.

Speaking of which, Tesla's influence on innovation in China cannot be understated. First, it was with the launch of its Shanghai EV factory in 2019, and now the launch of the Optimus robot in 2021 is having the same effect.

While Chinese companies acknowledge Tesla's early lead in AI, they believe China can significantly lower production costs. At the conference, Tesla's Optimus was outshone by some of its Chinese counterparts in terms of capabilities, but it still attracted a large crowd. A sign next to the robot boldly stated, "Next year there will be more than 1,000 of my compatriots in the factory."

Meanwhile, UBTECH Robotics, a Hong Kong-listed company, is already testing its humanoid robots in car factories, including Geely’s. On Thursday, UBTECH announced a new partnership to trial its robots at an Audi plant in China. The company aims to achieve mass manufacturing by next year, with up to 1,000 robots deployed in factories.

China currently leads the world in the number of factory-installed production robots, with more than three times as many as North America. However, experts believe it may still take 20 to 30 years before humanoid robots achieve widespread commercial use.