China Accelerates Humanoid Robot Development to Revolutionise Manufacturing
- tech360.tv
- 4 hours ago
- 2 min read
China is rapidly advancing its humanoid robot industry, aiming to transform its manufacturing sector and maintain global dominance amid economic challenges and labour shortages.
In a Shanghai warehouse, startup AgiBot operates dozens of humanoid robots for 17 hours daily, performing repetitive tasks like folding clothes and making sandwiches. The data collected trains AI models to enhance robot capabilities.
Chinese President Xi Jinping underscored the importance of this technology during a recent visit to AgiBot, highlighting its potential role in addressing trade tensions, an ageing population, and slowing economic growth.
Beijing is investing heavily in the sector, allocating more than USD 20 billion in subsidies over the past year. A one trillion yuan (USD 137 billion) fund is also being established to support AI and robotics startups.
Government procurement of humanoid robots surged to 214 million yuan in 2024, up from 4.7 million yuan in 2023. Cities like Shenzhen and Wuhan are offering additional incentives, including subsidies and free office space.
The average cost to produce a humanoid robot is expected to drop from USD 35,000 in 2025 to USD 17,000 by 2030, according to Bank of America Securities. Chinese firms predict this cost halving could happen within a year due to domestic sourcing.
China’s edge lies in its robust supply chain and AI capabilities. Companies like DeepSeek are helping developers integrate advanced AI into robots, enabling them to perform complex tasks and learn autonomously.
MagicLab, another startup, has begun deploying humanoid robots in production lines for quality inspection and assembly. CEO Wu Changzheng said the company is focusing on real-world applications in 2025, using AI models from DeepSeek, Alibaba, and ByteDance.
China manufactures up to 90% of humanoid robot components, giving it a significant advantage in cost and speed. Some startups are selling robots for as low as 88,000 yuan (USD 12,178).
In 2024, 31 Chinese companies unveiled 36 humanoid models, compared to eight from U.S. firms. At least six Chinese companies, including Unitree and UBTech, are entering or preparing for mass production.
Despite the promise of automation, concerns about job displacement are growing. Around 123 million people work in manufacturing in China. Lawmakers are discussing measures such as AI unemployment insurance to support affected workers.
Zheng Gongcheng, a social security expert, warned that up to 70% of the manufacturing sector could be impacted, potentially reducing social security contributions.
However, officials argue that robots will take on undesirable or dangerous jobs. Tang Jian of the Beijing Innovation Centre of Human Robotics said prototypes are targeting repetitive and hazardous tasks.
The technology is also being positioned to address labour shortages in elderly care. A national plan released in Dec. 2023 encourages the integration of humanoid robots in this sector.
Ant Group recently launched Ant Lingbo Technology to develop robots for elderly care, among other uses. AgiBot’s Yao Maoqing said future robots could assist with daily tasks such as room organisation and mobility support.
China is investing over USD 20 billion in humanoid robot development
AgiBot and other startups are training robots for factory and care tasks
Robot production costs could halve by 2030 due to domestic sourcing
Source: REUTERS