BYD to debut first humanoid robots in August as rivalry with Tesla intensifies
The Shenzhen-based company told the South China Morning Post in a statement that its long-anticipated first humanoid robots would debut in August at the firm’s Di Space experience centres.
Key takeaways
- The most recent developments show that humanoid robots are becoming both a commercial focus and a geopolitical flashpoint.
- In the United States, the federal government announced a ban on imports of foreign‑made humanoid and quadruped robots, specifically targeting Chinese manufacturers on national‑security grounds, a move that will cut off the dominant Chinese market share—estimated at roughly 85%—from its largest export market (U.S. ban reported in late July 2026).
- At the same time, major U.S. airlines have tightened safety rules: Delta Air Lines and United Airlines have joined Southwest in prohibiting human‑ or animal‑like robotic devices from cabin or checked‑baggage areas, citing battery‑safety concerns (policy updates issued in June and July 2026).
- In China, electric‑vehicle giant BYD confirmed it will unveil its first commercial humanoid robot in August at its Di Space experience centres, planning to place two or three robots in every BYD store within the next few years (announcement made July 28‑29, 2026).
- Meanwhile, Google DeepMind released Gemini Robotics 2, a vision‑language‑action model that can control an entire humanoid body—including walking, balancing and dexterous hand manipulation—using Apptronik’s Apollo 2 platform, highlighting a shift toward foundation‑model intelligence across diverse robot hardware (demo unveiled July 30, 2026).
The Shenzhen-based company told the South China Morning Post in a statement that its long-anticipated first humanoid robots would debut in August at the firm’s Di Space experience centres.
The robots will be more than just a concept product and will be able to interact with visitors to its Di Space showrooms, according to the statement issued on Thursday.
BYD’s network of Di Space centres showcases the firm’s latest vehicle technology and products, with the outlets designed to offer visitors a more immersive experience than a traditional showroom.
The world’s largest EV maker has repeatedly announced its intention to enter the humanoid robot arena, following a path blazed by Tesla with the launch of its Optimus robot. Electric & new energy vehicles
BusinessChina Business
China’s electric car giant plans to unveil the humanoids at its Di Space showrooms within weeks, as it takes on Elon Musk’s firm in physical AI
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Stella Li, BYD's executive vice-president, at a press conference before the start of the International Motor Show (IAA Mobility) in Munich on September 8, 2025. In June, Li said the company had invested in humanoid robots. Photo: DPA
Daniel Renin Shanghai
Electric vehicle giant BYD plans to unveil its first humanoid robots within the next few weeks, as China’s electric car makers accelerate their push into the embodied artificial intelligence market. In June, Stella Li, BYD’s executive vice-president, said the company had made “a huge investment in AI” and related technologies such as humanoid robotics. She also predicted that China would become the first market to “see full commercialisation of humanoid robots”.
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