Chinese humanoid robots: market overview (as of 10/19/2026)

Market size and shipments

• 2025. According to Omdia, about 13 thousand humanoids have been shipped worldwide: AgiBot about 5,168 units. (about 39%), Unitree about 4,200, UBTECH about 1,000; Leju, EngineAI and Fourier 150-500 pcs. (TechNode). Unitree disputes these figures and claims over 5,500 humanoids shipped (Gasgoo). Counterpoint estimates global installations in 2025 at approximately 16 thousand units, of which more than 80% will occur in China.
• H1 2026. Smart Analytics Global estimates that approximately 19,100 humanoids have been shipped worldwide (+272% YoY). The share of Chinese vendors is more than 97%. Leaders: AgiBot about 8,400 (44%) and Unitree about 5,900 (31%). Forecast for 2026: about 60 thousand units. and about USD 1.6 billion in revenue, for 2030 about 500 thousand units. (TechNode, TechRepublic). A Chinese industry report gives a different figure: more than 40 thousand units. for H1 2026. Methods differ.
• Key companies. In March 2026, AgiBot released its 10,000th robot (PR Newswire). UBTECH's revenue in H1 2026 was 1.27 billion yuan (+104%), of which 590 million came from full-size humanoids (KrASIA). Chery/AiMOGA delivered 2,000 robots by July.
• Number of players. There are more than 140 manufacturers of finished robots in China. In November 2025, the NDRC warned of the risk of a bubble: there were then more than 150 companies with similar products (SCMP). In H1 2026, embodied AI startups raised 322 rounds worth RMB 93.5 billion.

Politics

• MIIT. Technical Committee TC08 on Humanoids and Embodied AI created in December 2025. In February 2026, it released the first “System of Standards” (2026 edition). In July 2026, the Shaoxing Plenary established the WG7 Data Working Group (China Daily, SESEC).
• 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-2030). Embodied AI is included in the priority industries of the future.
• Local measures. Shenzhen has created a 10 billion yuan AI and robotics fund and subsidizes computing up to 60% (21jingji). Beijing has a high-precision industry fund with computer vouchers and interest subsidies. Other areas also have support packages, such as more than 300 million yuan in the Tianhe region (thnet.gov.cn).
• **USA.**Ban confirmed: On July 28, 2026, the FCC added foreign-made humanoids, quadrupeds, and grid-tied inverters to the Covered List. This blocks new certifications, and already approved models are not formally affected (AI Business, Design News). Unitree will be hit the hardest. The Chinese Foreign Ministry called the measure an “abuse” of the concept of national security.

IPO wave

• Unitree. The company listed on the STAR Market on August 19, 2026 and raised RMB 6.1 billion. Demand for retail subscriptions exceeded supply 8,288 times, with shares rising to +629% on the first day (Caixin). It is the first humanoid issuer in the mainland market.
• Submitted applications. Leju applied for ChiNext (May 2026), DEEP Robotics for STAR (May 2026). Confidential bids in Hong Kong were submitted by LimX, EngineAI, X Square and BrainCo. AgiBot began the listing process in Hong Kong in July, but due to the new round the listing will likely be pushed back to 2027 (OFweek. Galbot and RobotEra are preparing an IPO.
• Already public players. UBTECH (9880.HK), Dobot (2432.HK), RoboSense (2498.HK) and suppliers Leaderdrive, Orbbec and Zhaowei. Leaderdrive and Orbbec are the second listings in Hong Kong, Zhaowei has already placed H-shares.
• Risks. As of September 22, 2026, 11 mainland robotics companies have filed or renewed applications in Hong Kong. According to media reports, the regulator is applying “window guidance” and slowing down approvals because it fears inflated estimates and revenue from government projects (data collection centers) (Sina).

Clusters

• Beijing (Yizhuang/E-Town). More than 30 manufacturers of ready-made robots: Beijing Center for Humanoids (Tiangong), Galbot, RobotEra, Booster, Noetix, Galaxea, Dexmal, Xiaomi. The WRC (19-23.08.2026) and the World Humanoid Robot Games (beijing.gov.cn are held here.
• Shanghai (Zhangjiang/Lingang). AgiBot, Fourier, Kepler, TARS, UniX AI, National Center (Qinglong, Kylin Test Site), WAIC Exhibition.
• Shenzhen/Dongguan. UBTECH, EngineAI, LimX, Leju, Dobot, Astribot, X Square, AI2 Robotics, PaXini, Orbbec, Huawei, Tencent. The main base of the supply chain.
• Hangzhou. Unitree, DEEP Robotics and BrainCo are among the "six little dragons". Spirit AI and Ant Robbyant are also here.
• Yangtze Delta. Component belt in Ningbo, Shaoxing and Suzhou: Tuopu, Sanhua, Leaderdrive, Wuzhou Xinchun.
• Automobile manufacturers. XPeng, GAC, Chery, BYD, Xiaomi, Seres, Dongfeng, SAIC, Changan, FAW and Li Auto have their own programs.

Disclaimer: Shipment figures and estimates vary widely between sources, data taken from public reports and media. Full list of companies: china_research.csv (76 lines).