China Shifts Humanoid Robots to Large-Scale Commercial Deployment
China is transitioning its embodied AI industry from trials to mass commercialization, shipping 97 percent of global humanoid robots in early 2026.
The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology and other officials announced at the 2026 World Robot Conference in Beijing that China's embodied artificial intelligence industry is moving from small-batch trials to large-scale commercial deployment. The conference featured over 3,000 products from 300 companies, showcasing humanoid robots integrated into logistics centers, residential communities, and tourist areas.
Data from the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology shows China has developed over 400 humanoid robot products, more than half of the global total. In the first half of 2026, Chinese-made humanoid robots accounted for 97 percent of global shipments, totaling more than 40,000 units. The broader robotics sector's revenue exceeded 300 billion yuan in 2025.
To sustain this growth, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology and the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of the State Council launched a 2026 special initiative to develop foundation models and motion-control algorithms. This effort aims to resolve challenges regarding safety, ethics, and environmental adaptability.
Market activity peaked during the conference as Unitree Robotics launched an IPO on China's A-share market on Wednesday, with shares opening at 1,100 yuan, a 629.44 percent increase. Other major firms, including UBTECH and Xiaomi, are now deploying robots in the automotive and consumer sectors to meet rising industry demand.
