At the 2025 World Robot Conference held in Beijing, JD.com, a prominent player in the e-commerce and technology sectors, unveiled a groundbreaking strategy to bolster the development and adoption of embodied robots and embodied intelligence technologies. The company announced its “Intelligent Robot Industry Acceleration Plan,” committing over 10 billion yuan in resources to drive innovation and commercialization in this rapidly evolving field. This ambitious initiative targets supporting 100 robot brands in achieving annual sales exceeding 1 billion yuan each within three years, while also facilitating the integration of embodied robots into over one million end-user scenarios globally. By collaborating with top-tier brands such as Yushu Technology, Zhiyuan, Tiangang, Zhongqing, Xinghaitutu, Zhuji Dynamics, Qianxun, and Songyan Dynamics, JD.com aims to create a robust ecosystem that connects manufacturers with consumers and industrial users, thereby accelerating the practical application of embodied intelligence.
The acceleration plan represents a significant step forward in JD.com’s long-standing involvement in the robotics sector, which has been further intensified through recent investments in embodied intelligence startups. From May to August 2025, JD.com strategically invested in companies like Zhiyuan Robotics, Qianxun Intelligence, Zhuji Dynamics, Zhongqing Robotics, RoboScience, and Paxini Perception Technology, covering the entire spectrum of the embodied robots value chain. These investments encompass critical areas such as robot本体, core components, and motion control technologies, highlighting JD.com’s commitment to fostering a comprehensive embodied intelligence infrastructure. The embodied intelligence team, established independently in March 2025, is central to this effort, focusing on bridging the gap between technological advancement and market readiness for embodied robots.
According to Xu Lei, head of the Intelligent Robotics Business Department under JD.com’s 3C Business Group, the primary objective behind the massive resource allocation is to leverage JD.com’s strengths in online platforms, supply chain management, and logistics to accelerate industry growth. “By reducing the burden on partners in user connectivity, we enable them to focus on innovation and production, ultimately driving sales and commercialization for embodied robots,” Xu explained in an interview. He emphasized that the embodied intelligence team was formed to expedite industrial processes and facilitate commercial deployment through JD.com’s extensive sales network and industrial capabilities. This approach not only introduces embodied intelligence products to a broader audience but also encourages manufacturers to develop solutions that better align with consumer and enterprise needs, creating a feedback loop that refines the embodied robots ecosystem.
The strategic positioning of the embodied intelligence team revolves around capturing the immense potential of the embodied robots market, which was valued at hundreds of billions of dollars globally in 2023. Xu Lei outlined two key aspects: first, addressing application demands across diverse sectors such as logistics, industrial automation, home assistance, and elderly care, where embodied intelligence can drive efficiency gains and cost reductions; second, building a cohesive industry ecosystem by enhancing connections between stakeholders. For business-to-business (B2B) and business-to-consumer (B2C) robot本体, JD.com employs a direct sales model to assist companies in achieving sales targets, advertising reach, and commercial viability. Additionally, the company is expanding into upstream supply chain solutions, offering components like laser radars, sensors, and robotic arms to help partners reduce costs through economies of scale. “When enterprises procure embodied robots, they often need ancillary equipment such as charging stations, networking devices, and joint modules. While robot本体 manufacturers typically specialize in their core products, JD.com’s integrated supply chain allows for bundled offerings presented as comprehensive solutions,” Xu added. This capability ensures reliable fulfillment, whether for large-scale orders or sporadic purchases, thanks to JD.com’s robust logistics framework.
Looking ahead, JD.com plans to intensify its focus on technological innovation and research in the realm of embodied robots. Key areas include optimizing logistics-oriented embodied robots to enhance efficiency and precision in warehousing, sorting, and delivery operations, thereby lowering labor costs and improving overall logistics performance. Furthermore, the company will explore expanding the application scope of embodied intelligence into intelligent retail environments, developing robots capable of personalized services, product recommendations, and self-checkout functionalities to elevate the consumer experience. These efforts are underpinned by JD.com’s commitment to advancing embodied intelligence through continuous investment in research and development, ensuring that embodied robots become more adaptive and intelligent across various use cases.
In parallel, JD.com is dedicated to constructing and refining the intelligent robot industry ecosystem through strategic collaborations with robot manufacturers, technology firms, and research institutions. By pooling resources, the company aims to establish a seamless value chain spanning from R&D and manufacturing to market promotion and after-sales support. JD.com’s platform advantages will provide partners with access to extensive sales channels, data analytics, and brand exposure opportunities, while leveraging external expertise to diversify its own portfolio of embodied robots products and services. This synergistic approach is expected to foster mutual benefits and accelerate the maturation of the embodied intelligence market. For instance, in industrial settings, JD.com is partnering with manufacturing enterprises to deliver smart robot solutions that enable automated production upgrades, while in the elderly care sector, the development of assistive embodied robots for daily living and health monitoring is underway to address societal needs.
The following table illustrates JD.com’s recent investments in the embodied intelligence sector, highlighting the breadth of its strategic focus on embodied robots and related technologies:
| Company | Focus Area | Contribution to Embodied Robots |
|---|---|---|
| Zhiyuan Robotics | Robot本体 | Advanced humanoid embodied robots with embodied intelligence capabilities |
| Qianxun Intelligence | Core Components | Development of sensors and processors for enhanced embodied intelligence |
| Zhuji Dynamics | Motion Control | Innovations in locomotion and stability for diverse embodied robots |
| Zhongqing Robotics | Robot本体 | Specialized embodied robots for industrial and service applications |
| RoboScience | Research & Development | Cutting-edge AI algorithms for embodied intelligence in robots |
| Paxini Perception Technology | Perception Systems | Multi-modal sensing technologies to improve embodied robots’ environmental awareness |
To achieve its goals, JD.com will accelerate the deployment of embodied robots in a wider array of application scenarios. Beyond logistics and retail, the company is targeting industrial production, elderly care, and smart home domains. In industrial collaborations, JD.com’s embodied intelligence solutions are designed to help manufacturers automate processes, increase productivity, and reduce operational costs. For elderly care, the focus is on creating embodied robots that assist with daily activities, monitor health metrics, and provide companionship, thereby addressing the challenges of an aging population. These initiatives underscore JD.com’s holistic approach to embedding embodied intelligence into everyday life, ensuring that embodied robots become integral to various sectors.
Moreover, JD.com’s embodied intelligence team is prioritizing the enhancement of user engagement through educational initiatives and tailored marketing. By providing consumers with clear insights into the capabilities and benefits of embodied robots, the company aims to demystify the technology and stimulate demand. This consumer-centric strategy is expected to drive iterative improvements in product design, as feedback from end-users informs the development of more user-friendly and effective embodied intelligence solutions. As Xu Lei noted, “In the early stages of the robot industry, it’s crucial to help consumers understand embodied robots and embodied intelligence, which in turn pressures the industry to produce better-suited products.” This philosophy aligns with JD.com’s broader mission to connect supply with demand, fostering a dynamic market for embodied robots.
The integration of embodied intelligence into JD.com’s existing ecosystem also involves leveraging its JoyAI large model and JoyInside brand, which were introduced during the 2025 World Artificial Intelligence Conference. These technologies empower embodied robots with high emotional quotient (EQ) interaction abilities, enabling role customization and multi-scenario adaptability. For example, JoyAI can be integrated into various terminals, including robots and toys, to enhance their communicative functions and make embodied intelligence more accessible and engaging for users. This upgrade is part of JD.com’s efforts to position itself as a leader in the embodied robots space, combining hardware innovations with sophisticated AI-driven software.
In terms of scalability, JD.com’s supply chain prowess allows it to handle diverse order volumes efficiently, from bulk purchases by large enterprises to intermittent buys by small businesses. This flexibility is vital for the widespread adoption of embodied robots, as it ensures that partners can access necessary components and solutions without facing logistical bottlenecks. By offering a one-stop shop for embodied intelligence products, JD.com reduces the complexity and cost associated with sourcing, assembly, and distribution, thereby lowering barriers to entry for startups and established players alike. This ecosystem-centric model is poised to catalyze innovation and competition in the embodied robots industry, driving down prices and improving quality over time.
As part of its long-term vision, JD.com will continue to invest in research collaborations with academic institutions and industry consortia to advance the frontiers of embodied intelligence. These partnerships will focus on developing next-generation technologies, such as adaptive learning algorithms and energy-efficient designs, that enhance the autonomy and sustainability of embodied robots. Additionally, JD.com plans to establish testing grounds and pilot programs in real-world environments to validate the performance of embodied intelligence applications before full-scale deployment. This evidence-based approach minimizes risks and ensures that embodied robots meet the practical needs of users across different contexts.
The societal impact of JD.com’s initiatives in embodied robots and embodied intelligence cannot be overstated. By promoting automation and smart technologies, the company contributes to economic growth, job creation in high-tech fields, and improved quality of life. In logistics, for instance, embodied robots can handle repetitive tasks, freeing up human workers for more complex roles, while in healthcare, they offer potential solutions for remote monitoring and assistance. However, JD.com remains mindful of ethical considerations, such as data privacy and job displacement, and is committed to implementing embodied intelligence in a responsible manner that benefits all stakeholders.
In conclusion, JD.com’s comprehensive strategy for embodied robots and embodied intelligence marks a pivotal moment in the evolution of the robotics industry. Through substantial financial investments, strategic partnerships, and a customer-driven approach, the company is set to transform how embodied intelligence is developed, marketed, and utilized. The “Intelligent Robot Industry Acceleration Plan” serves as a catalyst for innovation, enabling JD.com to shape the future of embodied robots while addressing real-world challenges. As the global market for embodied intelligence continues to expand, JD.com’s efforts are likely to inspire similar initiatives worldwide, fostering a more interconnected and intelligent ecosystem for embodied robots in the years to come.