"Who Will Launch First?"... Fierce Battle for Humanoid Robot Commercialization [Inside China's Humanoid Ecosystem] ⑥

Analysis of the Global Humanoid Robot Ecosystem
Massive Capital Investment and AI Leadership Propel the United States
Government Support and Rapid Commercialization Drive China Forward
Intense Competition in the Development of Household Hum

Editor's NoteIt is not unusual to see parents bringing robots to school sports events in Shenzhen, China. In China, robots have become deeply integrated into everyday life, to the extent that the country even hosts Robot Olympics. This scene is made possible by an ecosystem that enables easy robot manufacturing. In Shenzhen's Huaqiangbei, it is easy to procure all the necessary parts to build a robot within a single day. Robots produced in this way are then deployed back into factories and other workplaces, creating a virtuous cycle that boosts productivity. In contrast, in South Korea, robots are still largely confined to laboratories and prototypes, with the country struggling to even reach the starting line of industrialization. Asia Economy took a close look at the structure and speed of the humanoid robot ecosystem on the ground in Shenzhen, China. As the world is already competing for commercialization, we examine the challenges South Korea has missed and urgently seek solutions for how the country must reshape its industrial strategy to avoid falling behind.

The establishment of a humanoid ecosystem in China is laying the groundwork for a direct showdown with the United States. While the United States is setting industry standards by leveraging its strengths in artificial intelligence (AI) technology and capital, China is countering with its ecosystem-driven price competitiveness and mass production capabilities.

China, which is moving toward mass production of humanoid robots, is considered to be ahead of the United States in terms of "cost-effectiveness" and "speed." The Chinese government’s full support and the advanced supply chain built through the automotive industry are accelerating the pace of market entry.

Tesla's humanoid robot 'Optimus'. Screenshot from Tesla's Twitter.

UBTECH has secured contracts for more than 500 units of its "Walker S" robot since last year, supplying them to manufacturing and logistics sites such as BYD, Volkswagen, Audi, Foxconn, and SF Express. This year, the new model "Walker S2" added a self-battery replacement feature.

Startup Unitree drew attention by launching its consumer robot G1 at 99,000 yuan (about 19 million won), which is just one-tenth the price of comparable global products. Last year alone, the company shipped 1,500 units and expanded its lineup to include the high-end H1 and the budget R1 models. The robots feature walking and running capabilities similar to humans, emphasizing mass appeal. AgiBot, which debuted in 2023, established China’s first humanoid robot factory in Shanghai and began mass production of the "Yuanzheng A2." Recently, it signed a contract to supply more than 100 units to automotive parts company Pulin Jinggong, further expanding its market presence.

The United States is considered to have a clear advantage in technology and capital. "Digit" by Agility Robotics was deployed at a logistics center in Atlanta, Georgia in June last year, becoming the first robot in the world to perform actual work in a factory. Although the tasks were simple-such as carrying boxes and organizing shelves-this case demonstrated that robots can replace human labor on-site.

Tesla has deployed hundreds of its "Optimus" robots at its Fremont, California factory. These robots are responsible for material transport, parts assembly, and battery sorting, with plans to begin mass production in 2026. Tesla has even set an annual production target of 500,000 to 1 million units for 2027.

Figure AI is testing precision processes such as assembly and placement by deploying its "Figure 02" robot at a BMW factory. Through its "BotQ" facility, which has an annual production capacity of 12,000 units, the company has signed contracts to supply 100,000 robots over the next four years, accelerating commercialization.

Boston Dynamics, acquired by Hyundai Motor Company, unveiled its newly redeveloped electric "Atlas" and will deploy it at its Savannah, Georgia plant by the end of this year. The deployment will start with parts arrangement and expand to welding and painting processes next year.

The United States has the advantage of being able to immediately transfer its expertise in autonomous driving and AI algorithms to robots. By combining this with cloud and data center infrastructure, the country is pursuing a strategy to evolve humanoids from simple hardware into "AI-based service platforms."

Han Jaekwon, professor of robotics at Hanyang University and CTO of Arobot, said, "The core competitiveness of the robot industry is whether a country has all the necessary parts and technologies for robots domestically, and whether it can mass-produce and supply products to factories, effectively internalizing the supply chain. Furthermore, countries that can take the lead in applying and nurturing 'physical AI' based on abundant data will be able to move ahead."