BYD's Stella Li tells BI she wants to put humanoid robots in every car showroom - Business Insider

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The latest news and analysis on robotics, from humanoid AI to real-world automation.

The latest news and analysis on robotics, from humanoid AI to real-world automation.

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BYD's Stella Li tells BI she wants to put humanoid robots in every car showroom

By Tom Carter BYD is the latest company to join the race to manufacture humanoid robots, the global market for which is expected to grow from $3 billion in 2025 to $28 billion in 2030, per Morgan Stanley estimates.

The Chinese EV giant's entry into the robotics market would see it face off once again with perennial rival Tesla. The US automaker is planning to begin production of its Optimus humanoid robot this summer, and CEO Elon Musk believes the robotic helper has the potential to be the biggest product of all time.

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The market for humanoid robots is currently dominated by Chinese companies such as Unitree and UBTech. Chinese robotics firms accounted for more than 80% of all humanoid robot shipments last year, according to data from Omdia.

The majority of robot deployments so far have been in controlled factory and warehouse settings, with the greater unpredictability of home and real-world environments typically posing more of a challenge for the technology.

Li told Business Insiderthat the humanoid robotics industry in China is moving at a rapid pace, but said more efficient energy-consumption systems and better AI "brains" were needed before home robots could become a reality.