China supply landscape
China is the largest source of humanoid robots and their components. This page maps its policies, clusters, robot makers, suppliers and export controls.
Last updated 8 October 2026 · Methodology
Scale
The world's largest robot market and humanoid industry
354,000
Industrial robots installed in China in 2025, 59% of the world total. Chinese brands supplied 55% of them.
IFR World Robotics 2026 (China)39%
AgiBot's share of about 13,000 humanoids shipped worldwide in 2025, the largest of any maker.
Omdia, Jan 2026Estimates of global humanoid shipments differ. IFR counts nearly 7,000 full-size humanoids (over 140 cm) sold in 2025 from 174 makers, more than half of them in China. Omdia estimates about 13,000 units and IDC about 18,000 of all sizes.
In November 2025 the National Development and Reform Commission warned that more than 150 humanoid companies risked duplicating products, signalling consolidation ahead.
Policy
A national strategy for humanoids
Humanoids have been a named national priority in China since 2023.
- 2023
MIIT Guiding Opinions on Humanoid Robot Innovation
In forceNational policy · 20 Oct 2023
Set 2025 targets of breakthroughs in core technologies, secure supply of key components, batch production, two to three globally influential companies and two to three clusters; and by 2027 a secure, reliable supply chain at world-advanced level.
- 2025
Shenzhen 10 billion yuan AI and robotics fund
In forceNational policy · 24 Feb 2025
Shenzhen launched a 10 billion yuan fund for AI and robotics, followed by an embodied robotics action plan for 2025–2027.
- 2025
National humanoid and embodied intelligence standards committee
In forceStandard · 26 Dec 2025
MIIT formed a Standardization Technical Committee on Humanoid Robots and Embodied Intelligence, with vice-chairs from Unitree and AgiBot and its secretariat at the Chinese Institute of Electronics.
- 2026–2030
15th Five-Year Plan: embodied intelligence
In forceNational policy · 2026–2030
Names embodied intelligence as a new industry track, with support for training grounds and core components.
- 2026
MIIT 2026 priorities for humanoid robots
In forceNational policy · 21 Jan 2026
MIIT counted more than 140 humanoid makers and 330 products, and named large models, integrated joints and chips as priorities, supporting the Beijing and Shanghai innovation centres.
- 2026
National humanoid and embodied intelligence standard system (2026 edition)
In forceStandard · 1 Mar 2026
China's first national standard system for humanoids and embodied intelligence, organised in six pillars.
Clusters
Where China's humanoid industry is concentrated
Research and national platforms
The Beijing Humanoid Robot Innovation Center (Tiangong platform) and more than 300 robotics firms in Yizhuang, backed by a 10 billion yuan fund.
Galbot, Xiaomi
Humanoid makers and LiDAR
The National and Local Co-built Humanoid Robot Innovation Center (Qinglong platform) and embodied AI funds in Pudong.
AgiBot, Fourier, Hesai
Electronics and components
A 10 billion yuan AI and robotics fund (February 2025) and an embodied robotics action plan for 2025–2027.
UBTech, Inovance, Orbbec, RoboSense, Zhaowei, DOBOT
Start-ups and quadrupeds
Home of the Hangzhou Embodied Intelligence Industry Alliance, formed in June 2025.
Unitree, DEEP Robotics
The component belt
Actuator, reducer and sensor makers clustered in Ningbo, Shaoxing and Suzhou. MEIHA's observation from company locations, not an official designation.
Tuopu, Keli Sensing, Sanhua, Leaderdrive
Automaker humanoids
XPeng is building a 110,000 m² humanoid production base and targets mass production of its IRON robot by the end of 2026.
XPeng
Robot makers
Leading Chinese humanoid and robot makers
| Company | Base | Profile | In Malaysia & ASEAN |
|---|---|---|---|
| AgiBot (Zhiyuan Robotics) | Shanghai | Humanoid robot maker founded in February 2023. The largest humanoid shipper in 2025 with about 5,168 units, according to Omdia. | Opened its first overseas AI World Experience Centre at i-City, Shah Alam, in January 2026. In September 2026 the Prime Minister announced a potential RM1 billion AGIBOT investment by 2035. Entered Singapore in October 2025. |
| DOBOT | Shenzhen | Collaborative robot maker expanding across Southeast Asia. | Opened DOBOT Malaysia in Kuala Lumpur in July 2025. Branch in Bangkok, Thailand. |
| Fourier | Shanghai | Rehabilitation and humanoid robot maker. Launched the GR-3 companion and care humanoid in August 2025. | – |
| Galbot | Beijing | Maker of wheeled humanoid robots for retail and logistics. Raised 2.5 billion yuan in March 2026, led by the National AI Industry Investment Fund. | – |
| UBTech Robotics | Shenzhen | Hong Kong-listed maker of the Walker S2 humanoid. Sold 1,079 full-size humanoids in 2025 for 820 million yuan. | – |
| Unitree Robotics | Hangzhou | Maker of the G1 and H-series humanoids and quadrupeds. Shipped over 5,500 humanoids in 2025 on revenue of 1.70 billion yuan, and builds its own joint motors and reducers. | Trials at Singapore's Punggol Digital District physical-AI testbed. |
| XPeng | Guangzhou | Carmaker building a 110,000 m² humanoid production base and targeting mass production of its IRON humanoid by the end of 2026. | – |
Suppliers
Component suppliers
Chinese companies supplying actuators, sensors, chips, magnets, batteries and materials.
Beite Technology
Ball screw maker.
CATL
Lithium battery maker.
D-Robotics
Horizon Robotics spin-off supplying the RDK S100 robot compute board, rated above 100 TOPS and used by Leju and LimX.
EVE Energy
Lithium battery maker.
Hangzhou Seenpin
Planetary roller screw maker.
Hanwei Electronics
Sensor group whose subsidiary Suzhou Starr runs mass-production lines for tactile electronic skin.
Hesai Group
LiDAR maker that shipped 239,273 robotics LiDARs in 2025, up 426%. Humanoid customers include Unitree and Galbot.
Inovance Technology
Industrial automation group supplying servo motors, drives, encoders, planetary roller screws and complete actuators for humanoid robots.
JL Mag Rare-Earth
Rare-earth permanent magnet maker with a dedicated humanoid magnetic-components business unit.
JStar Motion (Jiecang)
Linear actuator maker.
Keli Sensing Technology
Force sensor maker producing six-axis force/torque sensors for robots.
Leaderdrive
China's largest harmonic reducer maker. Formed a joint venture with SKF in July 2026 for humanoid joint transmission parts.
Orbbec
3D vision company making RGB-D depth cameras used in robots.
RIGOL Technologies
Test and measurement instrument maker.
RoboSense
LiDAR maker that shipped 303,000 robotics LiDARs in 2025 and works with about 50 humanoid and quadruped makers, including AgiBot and Unitree.
Sanhua Intelligent Controls
Thermal management and actuator maker planning a 3.8 billion yuan robot actuator base in Hangzhou.
Swancor Advanced Materials
Composites maker. An AgiBot-led consortium agreed to take control of at least 63.6% for up to 2.1 billion yuan.
Trensor
Pressure sensor maker.
Tuopu Group
Automotive supplier investing 5 billion yuan (about US$703 million) in a robot drive-system base.
Wuzhou Xinchun
Bearing maker investing about 1.5 billion yuan in planetary roller screws and robot bearings.
Xusheng
Precision parts maker producing humanoid joints and body parts.
Zhaowei Machinery & Electronics
China's largest micro-drive maker and fourth largest globally in 2024, supplying micro-motors and gearboxes used in dexterous hands.
Zhejiang Shuanghuan Driveline
Gear maker producing RV reducers and harmonic reducers for industrial robots alongside automotive gears.
Risks
Export controls and supply risks
- 2025
Expanded rare-earth and battery controls (suspended)
SuspendedExport control · 7 Nov 2025Watch: 10 Nov 2026
A package announced on 9 October 2025 covering more rare earths, magnet-making equipment, lithium battery items and extraterritorial rules was suspended by Announcement No. 70 until 10 November 2026.
The suspension expires on 10 November 2026. The controls may return.
- 2025
Battery technology export restrictions
In forceExport control · 15 Jul 2025
LFP and LMFP cathode technology and lithium extraction technology added to China’s restricted technology export catalogue.
- 2025
Rare-earth export licences (MOFCOM Announcement No. 18)
In forceExport control · 4 Apr 2025
Export licences required for seven medium and heavy rare earths (Sm, Gd, Tb, Dy, Lu, Sc, Y) and magnets containing them, the inputs to robot joint motors. Dysprosium and terbium exports fell about 60% year on year in the first half of 2026.
What it means: Motor and actuator makers outside China face longer lead times for magnets. Tesla said Optimus actuators were affected.
Engagement
Chinese bodies MEIHA aims to work with
- PROSPECT
Beijing Humanoid Robot Innovation Center
National platform behind the open-source Tiangong humanoid.
- PROSPECT
Hangzhou Embodied Intelligence Industry Alliance
Formed in June 2025, chaired on rotation, first by Unitree’s founder.
- PROSPECT
Chinese Institute of Electronics
Secretariat of the national humanoid and embodied intelligence standards committee, and organiser of the World Robot Conference.
- PROSPECT
China Robot Industry Alliance (CRIA)
Founded in 2013 under the China Machinery Industry Federation, with more than 430 members across robot research, application and supply.
Sources
- IFR World Robotics 2026 (China). ifr.org
- MIIT, Jan 2026. autonews.gasgoo.com
- Omdia, Jan 2026. technode.com
- Shanghai Stock Exchange. english.sse.com.cn
- IFR, World Robotics 2026 press presentation. ifr.org
- Jiemian, IDC humanoid shipments 2025. en.jiemian.com
- Reuters via AOL, NDRC warning on humanoid duplication, Nov 2025. aol.com
- TechNode Global, Beijing Yizhuang robotics cluster. technode.global
- State Council, Shenzhen AI and robotics fund, Feb 2025. english.www.gov.cn
- TechNode, Hangzhou Embodied Intelligence Industry Alliance, Jun 2025. technode.com
- Gansu Provincial Government, standard system released. ydyl.gansu.gov.cn
- Gasgoo, MIIT humanoid priorities. autonews.gasgoo.com
- Implicator, 15th Five-Year Plan and AI. implicator.ai
- IFR, World Robotics 2026 China press release, Sep 2026. ifr.org
- SESEC, MIIT humanoid standards committee. sesec.eu
- TechNode, standards committee announced. technode.com
- CIRS, China suspends export controls. cirs-group.com
- Pillsbury, China suspends export controls. pillsburylaw.com
- Shanghai Municipal Government, export catalogue update. english.shanghai.gov.cn
- MOFCOM Announcement No. 18. english.mofcom.gov.cn
- SMM, rare earth export review H1 2026. news.metal.com
- TrendForce, Tesla and rare-earth curbs. trendforce.com
- State Council, Shenzhen fund. english.www.gov.cn
- MIIT Guiding Opinions (gov.cn), Nov 2023. gov.cn