[News] The Humanoid Race: US Powers Ahead in AI, China Flexes Manufacturing Muscle

The U.S.-China AI competition is expanding to the humanoid robot sector. According to Commercial Times, citing Voice of America, industry sources note that while the U.S. holds advantages in the core technology for humanoid robots, China is making advances in hardware manufacturing capabilities. However, the report also points out that widespread adoption of robots remains premature at this stage.

The report mentions that the humanoid robot G1, produced by Hangzhou-based firm Unitree Robotics, made a striking impression at China’s Spring Festival Gala by performing martial arts-like movements, attracting significant attention to the progress of robots developed by Chinese companies.

Compared to the U.S., Chinese humanoid robots have a price advantage, as highlighted by Voice of America. Unitree’s G1 is priced at only RMB 99,000, whereas Tesla’s humanoid robot, Optimus, launched in 2024, is priced between USD 20,000 and USD 30,000 (approximately RMB 145,600 to 218,400).

The Voice of America report points out that in terms of AI-driven innovation for robots, U.S. companies such as Tesla, Boston Dynamics, and Figure AI remain at the forefront.

As noted by the report, California-based robotics company Figure AI has announced that its humanoid robot, Figure 02, will begin “alpha testing” in home environments in 2025—two years ahead of its original schedule—thanks to advancements driven by the company’s Vision-Language-Action (VLA) model, Helix.

China’s Drive for a Robust Robotic Components Supply Chain

Meanwhile, as the report indicates, Chinese companies such as UBTECH and Unitree Robotics are leveraging China’s vast technological supply chain and government investment, focusing their competitive edge on mass production and application.

TrendForce notes that leading Chinese humanoid robot manufacturers include Unitree Robotics, Fourier, and UBTECH, and the “Movement Plane,” which accounts for approximately 55% of a robot’s total cost, has seen strong domestic investment. Chinese firms are actively developing coreless motors, 6D force-torque sensors, and harmonic drives, key components for humanoid robot mobility.

Furthermore, China is the world’s largest battery producer. As humanoid robots move toward mass production and require higher power efficiency, this advantage is expected to become increasingly critical, as TrendForce points out.

Read more

• Humanoid Robots to Become the Next US-China Battleground, with Price Differentiation and Tiered Applications as Emerging Trends, Says TrendForce
• [News] Chinese Auto Giants Xiaomi, XPeng, and NIO Expand into Humanoid Robotics

(Photo credit: Unitree Robotics)