China is poised to become the global powerhouse in humanoid robot manufacturing, with projections indicating it will produce over half of the world’s humanoid robots by 2025. More than 10,000 units are expected to be manufactured, generating a market value of 8.24 billion yuan (US dollar 1.14 billion), driven by lower production costs and a mature robotics ecosystem.
This marks a significant transition from pilot projects to large-scale commercial deployment. A notable example is UBTech Robotics, which in March announced that its client Dongfeng Liuzhou Motor will begin rolling out 20 industrial humanoid robots, with full deployment planned for the first half of 2025.
The growth of embodied intelligence, where AI is integrated with robotics, is playing a pivotal role in this surge. The Chinese market for embodied intelligence is projected to reach 5.3 billion yuan (US dollar 726.84 million) in 2024 and is forecasted to grow rapidly to 103.8 billion yuan (US dollar 14.24 billion) by 2030. This would give China a commanding 45% share of the global market.
As China continues to invest in industrial automation and AI integration, it is shaping the future of the global robotics industry. The commercial deployment of humanoid robots in manufacturing, logistics, and services is expected to accelerate, making China not just a production hub but a leader in next-gen intelligent automation systems.