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China Expands Global Lead in Humanoid Robotics Development

lite News Desk 2 min read

At a glance

  • China hosts over 140 humanoid robotics companies
  • Chinese firms accounted for more than 80% of global humanoid robot shipments in 2025
  • UBTECH, AgiBot, and Unitree are among the leading manufacturers

China has established a substantial presence in the humanoid robotics sector, supported by extensive government investment and a growing number of companies focused on this technology.

More than 140 companies in China are developing humanoid robots, backed by over $26 billion in government-supported funding. The country has also recorded 7,705 humanoid-related patents in the past five years, which is about five times the number filed by the United States during the same period.

Chinese manufacturers were responsible for over 80% of global humanoid robot shipments in 2025. Companies such as AgiBot, Unitree, and UBTECH have played a major role in this expansion, each reaching new production milestones and delivering thousands of units to various sectors.

In November 2025, UBTECH began large-scale production of its Walker S2 industrial humanoid robot, with hundreds of units delivered in the first batch. The company reported cumulative orders for the Walker series exceeding 800 million yuan and set a production target of 10,000 units annually by 2026.

What the numbers show

  • Global humanoid robot shipments reached around 13,000 units in 2025
  • Chinese firms shipped more than 10,000 of these units
  • China accounted for 54% of global industrial robot installations
  • AgiBot shipped over 5,100 units and Unitree shipped about 4,200 in 2025

Industry events have highlighted the capabilities and applications of humanoid robots developed in China. The first World Humanoid Robot Games took place in Beijing in August 2025, featuring over 500 robots from 280 teams representing 16 countries. Participants competed in events such as soccer, running, boxing, dance, and martial arts.

At the 2025 World Artificial Intelligence Conference in Shanghai, more than 60 humanoid robots were showcased, including the GR-3 series, which has been deployed at over 300 medical sites and served more than one million patients. These demonstrations emphasized both industrial and service uses for humanoid robots.

Several Chinese manufacturers have reached notable production achievements. AgiBot began mass production in December 2024, reaching its 1,000th robot by January 2025. Leju Robotics delivered its 100th full-size humanoid robot in January 2025 after launching a new production line in Suzhou with an annual capacity of about 200 units.

Chinese companies have also introduced advanced features in their robots. DroidUp unveiled Moya, a biomimetic humanoid robot designed with a 92% human-like gait, micro-expressions, and simulated body temperature. Unitree’s G1 robot demonstrated martial arts skills on national television, and XPeng’s IRON robot participated in a public showcase in early 2026.

* This article is based on publicly available information at the time of writing.

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