The advances in humanoid robots by China and the US suggest that the next race will be to bring products to life faster and in larger numbers.
According to a series of reports from Robot Report, SCMP and the Wall Street Journal, the race to produce humanoid robots will be the main technology trend in 2025, with the two leading countries being the US and China. However, China has a big advantage.
Last week, the US company Figure AI said it would build a factory to produce BotQ humanoid robots with a capacity of 12,000 robots per year, according to Interesting Engineering. Figure is hiring experts to optimize the process for efficient production. The company also developed Helix artificial intelligence software to control robots used in the production line. The goal is to use robots to build robots, combined with human supervision.
Another representative, Tesla, is also planning to produce Optimus robots. According to Teslarati, in a meeting with employees about the 2025 strategy, Elon Musk set a goal of creating an "army" of 5,000 Optimus robots in the year, even 10,000-12,000 if there are enough components, and increasing to 50,000 by 2026. The American billionaire also compared this number to "the size of a Roman legion".
Meanwhile, many Chinese companies have begun producing humanoid robots for real-life use. Unitree Robotics sells two models, the H1 and G1, on JD.com, with the G1 priced at 99,000 yuan and the H1 at 650,000 yuan. Previously, these models also made a splash when they were able to successfully perform a standing backflip, do martial arts, and perform at a New Year's Eve event in China.
Dobot Robotics has also started taking orders for the Atom humanoid robot, priced at 199,000 yuan (VND 700 million), with mass production expected to begin in mid-2025.
On March 25, Agibot announced the opening of a new factory in Pudong, Shanghai to increase the production of humanoid robots to 5,000, on par with Tesla's plan. The company's products are aimed at industrial applications, replacing humans in specialized jobs. Agibot hopes to deliver 3,000-5,000 robots to customers this year, up from less than 1,000 robots last year.
Who is the US or China ahead?
According to US research firm Semi Analysis, based on the current situation, China is the "undisputed" leader in the race to produce humanoid robots. The country holds a significant advantage in terms of cost and supply chain efficiency, making production easier. For example, a robotic arm made in the US is 2.2 times more expensive than in China. A battery pack in China costs $127, but in North America and Europe it is 24% and 33% higher, respectively.
After years of investing in the battery, solar and electric vehicle (EV) industries, China has a dominant position in key components and materials for robots, such as rare-earth magnets and batteries. Combined with a strong domestic supply chain, shipping capabilities and shorter lead times, robot production costs are generally lower.
However, Kyle Chan, a PhD candidate at Princeton University (USA), said that China's robot production is currently more "symbolic" than practical. "I am confused by China's push for mass production," he wrote on his blog. "It doesn't make sense to suddenly release thousands of products when the technology doesn't really exist. They can't be used on a factory assembly line, let alone in a restaurant. It seems wasteful and wrong."
Experts also rate the US as superior in AI technology - the brain of robots. Meanwhile, Chinese companies are strong in hardware for the "body" of robots with increasing flexibility. In fact, Chinese companies also have impressive AI models for robots, such as AgiBot with Genie Operator-1 (GO-1) that enhances the ability to process image and video data to improve task performance and the ability to interpret human actions.
"With what is in place, the race to produce humanoid robots between the US and China is hotter than ever," commented DigiTimes. "This year, we may see more companies bring products to market, although initially it may only be a measure of public acceptance of this technology."