China Now Makes Over Half of World’s Humanoid Robots

China has reached a historic milestone in robotics, with its humanoid robot products now exceeding 400 models and accounting for more than half of the global total, according to data released on July 20 by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT). The announcement, made during a State Council Information Office press conference, also revealed that Chinese-developed four-legged robots command nearly 70 percent of worldwide sales volume, cementing the nation’s leadership in the rapidly expanding intelligent robotics sector.

A Policy-Driven Industrial Surge

The milestone is the result of a deliberate, multi-year industrial strategy. In late 2023, MIIT issued the “Guiding Opinions on Innovation and Development of Humanoid Robots,” laying the policy groundwork for what would become one of China’s most dynamic emerging industries. By 2025, MIIT had officially designated that year as the “Year One of Humanoid Robot Mass Production,” with over 140 domestic enterprises releasing more than 330 humanoid robot products by year-end, as reported by Xinhua News.

This policy momentum continued into 2026. In January, MIIT Vice Minister Zhang Yunming announced plans to release a comprehensive standardization system for humanoid robots and embodied intelligence. In June, two ministries jointly issued a notice to deploy humanoid robots in representative scenarios, targeting over 100 high-value application areas and 10,000-unit-level deployment capabilities by the end of the year.

Production Targets and Industry Growth

At the 2026 World AI Conference (WAIC 2026) press conference on July 7, Gan Xiaobin, Deputy Director of the MIIT Department of Science and Technology, announced that China’s annual humanoid robot production is expected to exceed 100,000 units in 2026. The conference, held in Shanghai from July 17 to 20, featured over 1,100 exhibitors and more than 3,000 exhibits, with 300 global premieres.

China’s AI core industry scale exceeded 1.2 trillion yuan in 2025, and over 30 percent of the nation’s above-scale industrial enterprises have adopted AI applications. In the first half of 2026, China exported over 10,000 AI-integrated intelligent bionic robots to more than 90 countries and regions, according to industry data.

Leading Manufacturers and Investment

Chinese robotics companies have experienced explosive growth. Unitree shipped 5,511 humanoid robots in 2025 with 335 percent revenue growth to 1.708 billion yuan. Zhiyuan shipped approximately 5,168 units, while Ubtech shipped roughly 1,000 industrial humanoid robots. The embodied intelligence sector raised 93.5 billion yuan in financing during the first half of 2026 alone — a fivefold year-over-year increase.

Joint modules, which account for 35 to 60 percent of humanoid robot bill-of-materials costs, represent a particular strength for Chinese suppliers, who hold advantages in scale, response speed, and cost efficiency. Morgan Stanley has predicted 2026 China humanoid robot sales of 28,000 units, representing 133 percent year-over-year growth, compared to global 2025 shipments of approximately 18,000 units.

Global Implications

China’s dominance in humanoid robot production carries significant implications for global manufacturing and technology competition. Similar to its trajectory in solar panels, electric vehicles, and drones, China is leveraging coordinated industrial policy, mature supply chains, and massive capital allocation to establish a commanding position in robotics.

The rapid scaling of humanoid robots also raises questions about labor market effects worldwide, as automation technologies advance. China’s contribution to international standards development in humanoid robotics could give it outsized influence over future industry norms and technical specifications.

What to Watch For

As China pushes toward its 100,000-unit annual production target, key questions remain: How many of the 400-plus humanoid robot models have moved beyond prototype to commercial deployment? What is China’s share of the global market by revenue rather than product count? And to what extent does the industry rely on imported chips and sensors for critical components?

The answers to these questions will determine whether China’s humanoid robot revolution translates into lasting global leadership — or whether challenges in quality, commercialization, and component dependency temper the nation’s ambitious trajectory.