Xiaomi tests humanoid robots on electric production line in automotive factory - Robotics & Automation News
Xiaomi, which built its reputation in consumer electronics including smartphones, tablets and smart home devices, has recently expanded aggressively into new technologies.
Key takeaways
Recent coverage shows a surge of activity around humanoid robots across industry and venture capital. In early March, Xiaomi demonstrated its CyberOne‑style humanoid on an electric vehicle production line, signaling interest in using bipedal machines for automotive assembly. At the same time, BMW is trialling the Hexagon‑developed Aeon robot at its Leipzig plant, while Mercedes‑Benz backs Apptronik‑built humanoids for part handling and inspection tasks. Chinese firms are scaling quickly: AgiBot has reported nearing a thousand units in early production, and Unitree has introduced models priced under $20,000, prompting analysts to note China’s strategic push in advanced robotics. Venture funding is also heating up; the San‑Francisco‑based startup Sunday, which aims to bring household humanoids to market, secured a $1.15 billion valuation. Meanwhile, RealSense unveiled a new depth‑camera “visual cortex” system at GTC 2026 to give humanoids reliable perception for navigation and manipulation in unstructured human environments. The sector’s momentum will be highlighted at the 2026 Robotics Summit & Expo in Boston, where experts from Agility Robotics, Boston Dynamics and ASTM will discuss current capabilities, safety standards and paths to broader industrial deployment.
Xiaomi, which built its reputation in consumer electronics including smartphones, tablets and smart home devices, has recently expanded aggressively into new technologies. In 2024 the company launched its first electric vehicle, the SU7 sedan, marking its entry into the highly competitive EV market.
The latest experiment suggests Xiaomi is also exploring robotics – particularly humanoid robots – as a potential automation technology for future manufacturing.
Xiaomi previously unveiled its CyberOne humanoid robot (pictured on screen below), and the company appears to be using related technologies as it experiments with humanoids in its EV factory.
Humanoid robots tested on automotive assembly task ### Growing interest in humanoid robots for manufacturing
Humanoid robots have attracted increasing attention in recent years as companies explore whether human-like machines could perform complex tasks in factories, warehouses, and logistics operations.
Several technology companies – including Tesla, Figure AI, and Chinese robotics startups – are developing humanoid platforms aimed at industrial use.
Xiaomi’s factory trial suggests the company may also be exploring how humanoid robots could eventually assist in its own manufacturing operations as it expands beyond smartphones into vehicles and other advanced technologies. Xiaomi launched its first production EV, the SU7 sedan, in 2024 and has since expanded its automotive ambitions – even unveiling a futuristic Vision Gran Turismo electric hypercar concept (pictured above) – although it is unclear which vehicle was being assembled in the factory where the humanoid robots were tested.
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