China built robots that can do backflips
thumbnail While the humanoid robotics industry has a long way to go, the potential market opportunity has led to Tesla CEO Elon Musk doubling down on robotics, converting EV production lines at the company's Fremont factory to make Optimus humanoid robots.
Key takeaways
- The biggest story today is the Chinese humanoid‑robot maker Unitree Robotics’ record‑breaking IPO on Shanghai’s STAR market, where shares opened at about 1,100 yuan – more than 600 % above the 150.8‑yuan issue price – raising roughly 6.1 billion yuan (about $905 million).
- In the same week Unitree unveiled a new humanoid called “Superman,” which can jump two metres from a standstill, run up to 12.66 m / s and perform backflips, positioning it as the fastest and most agile humanoid yet.
- Analysts project China’s humanoid‑robot market to grow to $15 billion by 2030, with shipments expected to reach 50,000 units this year.
- At the same time, U.S. firms are pitching humanoid robots for southern‑border surveillance, while a recent FCC ban on new foreign‑made humanoid and quadruped robots threatens Unitree’s future U.S. sales and forces American startups to source domestically.
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thumbnail While the humanoid robotics industry has a long way to go, the potential market opportunity has led to Tesla CEO Elon Musk doubling down on robotics, converting EV production lines at the company's Fremont factory to make Optimus humanoid robots. Production is expected to start later this year.
Some researchers argue Unitree isn't just a humanoid bet. Humanoids are Unitree's largest business, but quadruped robots still account for a sizable share. Purpose-built robots can be cheaper and more reliable in repetitive industrial settings, while humanoids are best-suited for unpredictable and less structured environments, they say.
Choose CNBC as your preferred source on Google and never miss a moment from the most trusted name in business news. "For these humanoid robots, to be honest, they're fascinating. They can dance and all that – but never seen them doing any real housework," said Hao Hong, managing partner of Lotus Asset Management.
In its prospectus, Unitree said that progress for large-scale commercial adoption may be slower than expected, as robotic hands are still not precise or durable enough for sustainable use.
Are Unitree's humanoid robots worth the hype, or do investors just want in on the sector?
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Current humanoid robots 'tend to be a large-sized toy': Hao Hong
The China Connection
Hong noted that retail investors are piling in partly because there are so few humanoid robotics companies to invest in.
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