Humanoid Robots Surge as Capital Floods into the Sector

In 2025, the humanoid robot sector is set to explode, projected to be worth a trillion yuan. Recent favorable news has emerged, including a significant procurement order from the world's first humanoid robot company, UBTECH, which won a contract worth 90.51 million yuan from Mi Yi Automotive, marking the largest procurement order for humanoid robots globally. Additionally, on July 17, UBTECH showcased its innovative hot-swappable battery replacement system, enabling its Walker S2 robot to operate continuously without downtime for charging. Further, on July 11, Zhiyuan Robotics and Yushu Technology won a contract for humanoid biped robots from China Mobile, with a total budget of 124.05 million yuan, which is the largest single public procurement order in China's humanoid robotics industry to date. In terms of investment, companies are seeing a surge in funding; for instance, it was reported that it was announced on July 8 that Itstone Zhihang completed a $122 million angel round led by Meituan. On July 21, JD.com invested in three robotics firms in a single day, including leading a 600 million yuan Pre-A+ round for Qianxun Intelligent. JD.com aims to enhance its investment in frontier technologies like embodied intelligence and large models, intending to build an open technological innovation ecosystem through internal R&D and external investments. Many other humanoid robotics companies, such as Xinghai Tu, Yanshenchu, and others, have also announced financing this year, with the total funding for robotics (including humanoid robots) exceeding 30 billion yuan. Notably, two 10 billion yuan funds have emerged in the sector, enhancing the integration of technology and resources. As a result of these positive developments, stocks related to humanoid robots in the A-share market have seen significant increases, with some companies even hitting daily limits. On July 22, UBTECH announced a major share placement on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, raising approximately 2.47 billion HKD, which will be used for business expansion and debt repayment. The IPO wave in the humanoid robot sector is also gaining momentum, with several companies planning or preparing for public offerings. Research indicates that the humanoid robot industry is transitioning toward large-scale production, with the market expected to reach nearly 90 billion yuan by 2025. Furthermore, the demand for solid-state batteries is expected to rise, as humanoid robots require batteries with high energy density and long cycle life. Solid-state batteries are seen as a promising solution due to their superior safety and performance characteristics. Battery firms are ramping up development to meet the stringent demands of humanoid robotics, with expectations that the market for lithium batteries in this sector will exceed 1 billion yuan by 2025. The upcoming 12th China (Suzhou) Battery New Energy Industry International Summit Forum, scheduled for November 11-13, 2025, aims to discuss rapid positioning and proactive changes in the battery industry amid the evolving landscape of new energy.