From 40,000 to 100,000 Units: China Moves Toward Mass Production of Humanoid Robots
China's humanoid robot industry is entering a new phase as production expands, exports accelerate and robots move into real-world applications. However, the next stage of growth will depend not only on manufacturing capacity, but also on whether robots can perform tasks reliably, adapt to specific environments and improve through accumulated operational data.
According to China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the country produced more than 40,000 humanoid robots in the first half of 2026. Annual output is expected to exceed 100,000 units. China's established manufacturing infrastructure and supply chains are helping companies scale production and overcome initial technological and manufacturing barriers.
Humanoid robots are increasingly being deployed in factories, theme parks and shopping centers. Overseas shipments are also gaining momentum. Customs data showed that China exported 16,559 intelligent bionic robots from January to September, with a total value of 1.417 billion yuan, or approximately 212.55 million U.S. dollars. Export volume in September was about 176 percent higher than in January.
Tan Weijia, secretary-general of the Shenzhen Robotics Association, said humanoid robots could serve an exceptionally wide range of applications. Specific environments often require additional development and adaptation of both hardware and software. This creates opportunities for a variety of specialized products while sustaining demand for large-scale manufacturing.
A recent Morgan Stanley report noted that several robot manufacturers had significantly raised their shipment targets for 2026. Yet the industry's central challenge is shifting from whether a company can build a robot to whether the machine can consistently complete tasks in real-world conditions. Companies must also turn deployment experience into data that can support model improvement and help reduce costs.
"Currently, people have high expectations for the robotics industry, as they hope robots can perform a wide range of functions. But in reality, robots may only be able to perform one or a few functions, and that gap cannot be resolved in a short time. Our response is to start from a small scenario, develop the robot for that scenario, and make targeted improvements to strengthen one particular capability," said Zhang Shaoyu, an R&D staff member at Shenzhen Luqi Technology Co., Ltd.
Xu Yangsheng, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and president of the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen, said the industry does not primarily lack manufacturing capacity or capital. Instead, it needs leading talent capable of combining general-purpose capabilities with specialized functions.
"I think, [for a single company], at least 100,000 units would be called mass production. What the industry lacks most is talent — creative talent that can truly integrate things and find the balance between generality and specialization. We lack comprehensive and creative talent. We do not lack demand or application scenarios, but we need talent to make it happen," Xu said.
China's humanoid robot industry therefore faces a dual challenge: scaling up production while proving that robots can operate reliably beyond demonstration settings. Consistent performance in real-world environments, adaptation to business needs and the development of skilled talent will be crucial to the industry's next phase.
