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China Expands Role in Global Humanoid Robotics Development

lite News Desk 2 min read

At a glance

  • Over 200 Chinese firms are developing humanoid robots
  • China accounted for two-thirds of global robotics patents in 2024
  • Unitree robots cost about one-tenth of typical U.S. humanoids

China’s robotics sector is growing rapidly, with government support and widespread industry participation contributing to increased development and deployment of humanoid robots.

At the World Artificial Intelligence Conference in Shanghai in December 2025, Unitree humanoid robots were demonstrated performing activities such as sprints, kung-fu kicks, and acrobatic backflips. Many other humanoid robots at the event lacked advanced motor skills and were operated by humans using game controllers.

More than 200 companies in China are involved in humanoid robot development. The Chinese government has addressed the sector’s growth by cautioning against overcapacity and unnecessary duplication among manufacturers.

Government funding has played a substantial role in supporting robotics. Over $20 billion was allocated in the past year, and a one trillion yuan fund was established to assist artificial intelligence and robotics startups.

What the numbers show

  • Global humanoid robot shipments reached 13,317 units in 2025
  • China accounted for 54 percent of global robot installations in 2024
  • Unitree is reportedly targeting a $7 billion IPO in Shanghai

Unitree’s legged robots are priced at tens of thousands of dollars or less, which is about one-tenth the cost of typical humanoid robots produced in the United States. At the 2025 World Robot Conference in Beijing, more than 100 different humanoid robot models were showcased.

The Beijing Academy of Artificial Intelligence developed Robobrain 2.0, an open-source robotics model that integrates language understanding with spatial reasoning. This model is used to control robot arms through natural language commands.

China has established more than 40 government-owned robot data collection centers, with some still in planning stages. In these centers, human operators remotely control humanoid robots to teach them tasks such as folding clothes or opening microwave doors.

Analysts have stated that China’s share of humanoid robot shipments is expected to comprise a large portion of future global deployments. Global shipments of humanoid robots are projected to reach 2.6 million units by 2035, with China positioned as a leading participant in this sector.

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

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