February 18, 2025
Introduction
Recently, China’s humanoid robot market has been heating up. Unitree Robotics has upgraded its robotic algorithms, UBTech’s Walker S series has received intent orders from automotive manufacturers, and Zhongqing Robotics plans to deliver multiple products this year. With the rapid expansion of production capabilities, 2025 is set to become the first true mass-production year for humanoid robots, offering tremendous growth prospects.
China’s Humanoid Robot Industry Clusters
In terms of industry clusters, China has developed several major regions, including the Pearl River Delta, Yangtze River Delta, and Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei area.
The Pearl River Delta has become the largest robotics manufacturing cluster, leveraging its electronics and system integration advantages. It is home to major corporations like Huawei, BYD, and XPeng, with strong expertise in controllers, sensors, and electronic components.
The Yangtze River Delta excels in metal parts production and core components, such as harmonic reducers and motors. It is also a hub for AI development and software engineering, with a well-coordinated enterprise collaboration ecosystem.
The Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, with Beijing at its core, possesses strong research capabilities, particularly in AI algorithms. However, it has fewer industrial factories, and its supply chain ecosystem is not as mature as the Pearl River Delta’s.
Other regions such as Hefei (Anhui) and Chengdu (Sichuan) are actively investing in humanoid robotics, with government support and industry-academia collaborations driving innovation.
China’s Humanoid Robot Supply Chain Overview
Key Components Market
The ball screw, a critical transmission component in humanoid robots, is experiencing steady market expansion. Chinese companies such as Dingzhi Technology and Qin Chuan Machine Tool are now on par with international brands like Rollvis and Ewellix in terms of cost efficiency. Dingzhi Technology has developed load-bearing capabilities and durability that rival foreign brands, with prices around 30% lower and performance reaching approximately 75% of imported products.
Motors play a core role in humanoid robot motion control, with Step Electric and Kollmorgen being major suppliers. Step Electric has innovated insulated shaft coatings to control temperature, improving performance and lifespan.
For hollow cup motors, primarily used in dexterous robotic hands, Mingzhi Electric and Dingzhi Technology are key players. Chinese hollow cup motors now perform at 90% of international levels, though efficiency and power output gaps remain.
- The demand for frameless torque motors is expected to remain stable, with prices decreasing as production scales.
- The market for hollow cup motors is expected to expand, with significant cost reductions, enabling more precise dexterous hand applications.
Reducers: Precision & Load Capacity Are Key
Harmonic reducers are widely used in humanoid robots to enhance precision and load capacity. Leading Chinese manufacturers include Lüde Harmonic, Guomao Group, and Harmonic Drive.
- Guomao Group is experiencing rapid growth due to strong financial backing and R&D investments.
- The accuracy of harmonic reducers is a critical performance factor, influencing response speed and transmission ratios.
- Market growth for harmonic reducers is directly tied to humanoid robot adoption, though expansion is expected to be gradual, with prices expected to decline over time.
Sensors: The Growth Engine of the Humanoid Market
Vision sensors and LiDAR are key components, with a large market share and high growth potential. Prices are expected to decline as technology advances and production scales up.
- Torque sensors, such as those from Keli Sensors, excel in precision and interface adaptability.
- Dexterous robotic hands, essential for fine motor control, are supplied by Aoyi Technology and Pasiini.
- The dexterous hand market is expected to grow rapidly, with prices decreasing, enabling broader household and service applications.
- Battery suppliers such as CATL (Contemporary Amperex Technology) and CALB (China Aviation Lithium Battery) are key players in powering humanoid robots.
China’s Large-Scale AI Models for Humanoid Robots
In the realm of AI-driven humanoid robots, Chinese firms predominantly rely on open-source models, with major players including:
- Zhipu AI (Tsinghua-affiliated)
- Shanghai AI Lab
Most Chinese manufacturers are expected to customize AI models based on open-source frameworks, enabling personalization and differentiation.
However, China still faces a gap compared to global leaders in areas such as AI model performance, embodied intelligence simulations, and real-time processing efficiency.
To narrow this gap, domestic R&D investment has been significantly increased. For example:
- Shanghai and Beijing are developing hybrid simulation training environments,
- Virtual data is being utilized to enhance humanoid robots’ adaptability and decision-making abilities.
The Future of China’s Humanoid Robot Industry
China’s humanoid robotics industry is poised for explosive growth, but industry-wide collaboration is essential to overcome existing challenges. With ongoing technological advancements and expanding application scenarios, China is expected to secure a leading position in the global humanoid robotics market. This will not only drive economic growth but also usher in a new era of human-machine collaboration.
[Disclaimer] The above content reflects a summary of relevant events and does not constitute any investment advice. Information is sourced from public data, expert opinions, and BCC research. BCC Global bears no responsibility for any losses resulting from the use of this content. Investments carry risks—proceed with caution.