China's Unitree Prices IPO in Bet Investors Are Ready for ...
Investors are betting that humanoid robots built to look and move like humans will become the next major breakthrough.Credit...Video by Hiroko Masuike/The New York Times Supported by SKIP Audio 1 Listen · 8:58 min Share full article Image 1: Steve LohrImage...
Key takeaways
- In early August 2026 a wave of developments reshaped the humanoid‑robot landscape.
- Researchers at the Italian Institute of Technology, GenerativeBionics and the University of Manchester unveiled the human‑aware “ergoCub,” a new humanoid that can adapt its movements during shared lifting tasks, aiming to reduce back strain for human partners.
- At the same time, the U.S.
- Federal Communications Commission announced a ban on imports of foreign‑made humanoid and quadruped robots—targeting especially Chinese manufacturers such as Unitree—citing national‑security and supply‑chain risks.
- Chinese robot maker Unitree responded by pricing an IPO on the Shanghai Stock Exchange, seeking roughly $900 million and valuing the company at about $9 billion, while highlighting the commercial appeal of its humanoids that have become viral for feats like kung‑fu performances.
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Investors are betting that humanoid robots built to look and move like humans will become the next major breakthrough.Credit...Video by Hiroko Masuike/The New York Times
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Image 1: Steve LohrImage 2: Xinyun Wu
By Steve Lohr and Xinyun Wu
Steve Lohr reported from Seoul. Xinyun Wu reported from Taipei, Taiwan.
Aug. 6, 2026
Unitree Robotics may be little known outside China. Its robots are not. Millions around the world have watched videos of the company’s machines carrying out remarkable feats that seem almost superhuman. During China’s nationally televised Lunar New Year celebration, a troupe of Unitree humanoid robots performed an elaborate kung fu routine, scaling walls, executing back flips and wielding swords.
Now the company is taking its biggest step yet: an initial public offering on the Shanghai Stock Exchange. On Thursday, Unitree priced its shares at the equivalent of around $22, seeking to raise about $900 million in a deal valuing it at about $9 billion.
The listing comes at a pivotal moment for the humanoid robot industry. Investors are betting that machines built to look and move like humans will become the next major technology breakthrough. Governments increasingly see them as strategic assets as well. Last month, the Federal Communications Commission announced plans to ban new Chinese-made humanoid and quadruped robots, citing national security concerns. U.S. officials argue that as such robots become commonplace in factories, offices and homes, they could surreptitiously collect sensitive commercial, government and personal information or provide new avenues for cybersecurity attacks on critical infrastructure. Last year, European researchers identified security vulnerabilities in a Unitree robot that could potentially be exploited by hackers.
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