China’s Humanoid Robot Boom: What To Know - Newsweek
## Policy Push In a 2023 policy document, China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology described humanoid robots as a "disruptive product" following computers, smartphones and electric vehicles, and it laid out targets through 2025 and 2027 for b...
Key takeaways
The most recent coverage shows a surge of activity around humanoid robots across both industry and consumer markets. Tesla announced that sales of its Optimus units to external customers will finally begin in 2026, following limited internal deployment in its car‑assembly lines. In parallel, Mercedes‑Benz formalised a partnership with U.S. robotics firm Apptronik in March 2024 and has earmarked a “low double‑digit‑million‑euro” investment for the next few years, with plans to place humanoids in intra‑logistic zones of its factories. Chinese manufacturers are leading in volume: Unitree shipped roughly 90 % of the world’s 13,000 humanoids sold last year and expects 28,000 units in 2026, while Galbot’s G1 and other “Big 5” Chinese makers are showcasing new models at the Automation World Seoul expo and securing multi‑hundred‑million‑dollar funding rounds. The sector, however, is grappling with safety concerns after several high‑profile malfunctions of Unitree models in factories and public events. In the consumer arena, Honor unveiled a working humanoid robot at Mobile World Congress 2026, demonstrating dancing, moonwalking and a back‑flip attempt, and positioning the robot for shopping assistance, workplace inspections and companionship. Hyundai highlighted its four‑wheeled MobED platform—awarded at CES 2026—and indicated that its shipyard HD Hyundai Samho is studying humanoid integration for low‑level tasks with a rollout target of 2027. Finally, industry analysts continue to question the practicality of humanoids for automation, noting that specialised AMRs, cobots and SCARA robots currently offer more reliable, scalable solutions than the complex, high‑center‑of‑gravity designs of humanoid machines.
Policy Push
In a 2023 policy document, China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology described humanoid robots as a "disruptive product" following computers, smartphones and electric vehicles, and it laid out targets through 2025 and 2027 for breakthroughs in AI "brains," motion-control systems, dexterous limbs and mass-produced whole-machine platforms.
"Humanoid robots will become an important new engine of economic growth," the document said. "China's robots aren't advancing this fast because of some grand government masterplan. It's the same reason the U.S. leads in AI: infrastructure," wrote Rui Xu, a former tech executive at Xiaomi and ByteDance with experience in both the U.S. and Chinese robotics sectors.
"When Unitree wants to test a new joint design, they walk down the street," he added. "That's why China shipped 90 percent of the approximately 13,000 humanoid robots sold globally last year. That's why Unitree's G1 costs $16,000 while Tesla's Optimus Gen2 will be over $20,000."
Investors are betting that volume will follow. Morgan Stanley expects Chinese humanoid robot sales to reach 28,000 units this year—more than double the investment bank's earlier estimate.
Newsweek has contacted Unitree for comment by email. ## Safety Concerns
The emergence of these robots has also raised safety concerns.
A Unitree Robotics H1 model went viral last year after suddenly flailing its limbs in a factory, toppling equipment and forcing employees to back away. In another incident that year, an elderly woman was almost headbutted by a Unitree robot at a lantern festival event in Guangdong province.
Earlier this month, video circulated of what appeared to be another Unitree robot malfunctioning, collapsing in spasms and appearing to kick a man in the face and injuring him.
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