Samsung Asset Management to List New KODEX China Humanoid Robot ETF

Samsung Asset Management will launch the world's first ETF focused exclusively on the Chinese humanoid robot industry on May 13. This is the only China humanoid robot-themed ETF, not only in Korea but also globally.

Samsung Asset Management announced on May 12 that it will newly list the 'KODEX China Humanoid Robot' ETF. Following the public fund investing in the global humanoid robot industry, which was launched in Korea for the first time in March, and the KODEX US Humanoid Robot ETF listed last month, the company has now added a China-focused humanoid ETF, thereby completing its product lineup dedicated to the rapidly growing humanoid robot industry.

The Chinese government is nurturing the humanoid industry as its next-generation national strategic industry, following the electric vehicle industry. Previously, the Chinese government introduced an 'Advanced Manufacturing Innovation Policy' to foster the electric vehicle sector, successfully developing global EV companies such as BYD. By declaring the development of the humanoid robot industry as a key strategy of 'Made in China 2035', China has designated this year as the inaugural year for mass production of humanoid robots and plans to focus on fostering the industry intensively over the next 10 years.

China is rapidly emerging as a powerhouse in the humanoid robot sector, leveraging its unique price competitiveness and advanced technology. In particular, the rise of China's proprietary artificial intelligence (AI) models, such as DeepSeek, combined with the country's massive manufacturing infrastructure?often referred to as the "factory of the world"?is positioning China's physical AI industry as a new growth engine. Additionally, because the core component structure, operating principles, and AI architecture of humanoid robots are similar to those of electric vehicles, China, which already boasts the world's largest electric vehicle market, is considered to have favorable conditions for mass-producing humanoid robots. At the humanoid half marathon held last month, a Chinese-made humanoid robot completed the race, demonstrating its advanced technological capabilities.

The KODEX China Humanoid Robot ETF invests 100% in humanoid companies, ranging from complete humanoid robot manufacturers to core component firms. Investors can target companies that produce essential parts supporting the sophisticated movements of humanoid robots, such as actuators (joints) and flexible hands. Major complete robot manufacturers include UBTECH, Dobot, and Xinsong Robot, while key component companies include Leaderdrive, Takbo Group, Inovance, Zhongda Leader, and Zhaowei. In total, the ETF invests in 20 stocks within the China humanoid robot value chain.

The ETF tracks the Solactive China Humanoid Robotics Index as its underlying index. This index comprises 20 stocks listed in Hong Kong and mainland China that are part of the China humanoid robot value chain. The index is evaluated as having optimized its investment weights by analyzing the actual importance of core components required to build a humanoid robot.

The total expense ratio of the KODEX China Humanoid Robot ETF is 0.45% per annum. It is a product in which up to 70% can be invested through retirement pension (DC/IRP) accounts and up to 100% through personal pension accounts.

Lee Kahyun, a manager at Samsung Asset Management, stated, "Given the Chinese government's strong policy drive toward humanoid robots, we expect to see a success story in the Chinese humanoid robot industry similar to that of the electric vehicle sector." Lee added, "The KODEX China Humanoid Robot ETF will provide the earliest opportunity to invest in the rapidly growing China humanoid robot industry, which is driven by massive demand, technological prowess, and policy support."