Chinese robotics company UBTech Robotics and home appliance manufacturer Midea Group are increasing the use of humanoid robots in factory operations.

This move aligns with China’s effort to adopt advanced technologies.

UBTech has secured a buyer for a small batch of its bipedal robots, Walker S1 and Walker C, intended for manufacturing and commercial hospitality.

Midea Group is set to deploy its self-developed humanoid robots, which operate on wheels, at a smart factory in Jingzhou, Hubei province, by early May.

🔗 Source: South China Morning Post

🧠 Food for thought

1️⃣ China’s demographic decline accelerates industrial robot deployment

China’s push to deploy humanoid robots in factories is driven by critical demographic pressures rather than merely technological advancement.

The country faces a shrinking working-age population that threatens manufacturing capacity, with employers reporting significant talent shortages in industries where robotics skills are increasingly in demand 1.

This demographic challenge explains why China has become the world’s largest market for industrial robots, accounting for 51% of global installations to address labor gaps 2.

The rapid deployment by companies like UBTech and Midea follows a clear trend in Chinese manufacturing: despite starting with only 36 robots per 10,000 workers in 2015, China has rapidly scaled to over one million robots in operation, outpacing traditional robotics powerhouses like Germany and Japan 3.

This context reveals why Chinese manufacturers are willing to embrace early-stage humanoid technology despite its limitations. The alternative is facing critical worker shortages that could undermine China’s manufacturing dominance.

2️⃣ Government policy and investment fuel China’s robotics leadership ambitions

China’s humanoid robot deployment is part of a coordinated national strategy to achieve technological self-sufficiency and global leadership in advanced manufacturing.

The “Made in China 2025” initiative explicitly targets robotics as a strategic industry, with massive government support including Guangdong province’s US$150 billion pledge to install industrial robots and establish advanced automation centers 4.

This long-term vision is driving rapid industry growth, with six Chinese humanoid robot manufacturers now planning to produce over 1,000 units each in 2025, targeting a domestic market projected to reach 75 billion Yuan (US$10.4 billion) by 2029 5, 6.