China’s Unitree Prices IPO in Bet Investors Are Ready for Humanoid Robots
Last month, the Federal Communications Commission announced plans to ban new Chinese-made humanoid and quadruped robots, citing national security concerns. U.S.
Key takeaways
- The most recent headlines show that humanoid robotics is becoming a geopolitical and commercial flashpoint. In early August, Chinese firm Unitree Robotics priced a Shanghai‑stock‑exchange IPO that values the company at about $9 billion, underscoring investors’ belief that humanoid machines will be a major technology breakthrough. At the same time, the U.S. Federal Communications Commission announced a ban on new Chinese‑made humanoid and quadruped robots over national‑security concerns, and former President Donald Trump has framed the restriction as part of a broader trade battle with China.
- American companies are responding with high‑profile moves. Nvidia unveiled the Isaac GR00T reference humanoid, built on a Unitree H2 Plus platform and equipped with Jetson Thor processors, to accelerate academic research. Tesla’s Optimus remains a long‑term goal, with Elon Musk targeting a $20,000‑$30,000 price point once mass‑produced. Agility Robotics is set to go public via a SPAC merger, and Samsung Electronics has announced plans to enter the humanoid market.
- In the private‑sector race, BYD said it will reveal functional humanoid robots in August, emphasizing its capacity to mass‑produce at scale, while Walden Robotics announced a partnership with Toyota to develop practical, wheel‑based humanoids for workplace assistance. Meanwhile, Chinese startup UBTech launched the U1, a full‑size social robot aimed at seniors and single adults, priced around $16,500.
- Collectively, these developments illustrate a surge in investment—more than $3 billion poured into humanoid startups in 2025 alone—and a shift from science‑fiction demos toward real‑world applications in hospitality, manufacturing, education and personal companionship.
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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. 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. 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.
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