Seres’ foray into humanoid robots has been marked by tangible actions that signal a well-planned strategy. On March 31, 2025, the company joined hands with Beihang University to establish Beijing Saihang Embodied Intelligence Technology Co., Ltd., with a registered capital of 50 million yuan. Seres’ subsidiary holds a 70% stake in the joint venture, while Beihang University owns the remaining 30%, underscoring the company’s commitment to leveraging academic expertise for technological innovation. This move came on the heels of Seres’ 2025 global campus recruitment announcement on March 22, which introduced a new doctoral position for an “Embodied Intelligence Large Model Engineer.” The role requires capabilities in applying multimodal data to scenarios like robotics, indicating the company’s push to build technical reserves in embodied intelligence.
The company’s strategic pivot toward humanoid robots is not a sudden shift. Whispers about Seres planning to venture into humanoid robot ontology R&D began circulating in late 2023. Although Seres has yet to issue an official response to these rumors—reporters from China Business Journal received no reply to their interview requests as of press time—public information and the company’s consistent actions paint a clear picture of its ambitions.
Strategic Significance: Differentiation and Technological Synergy
Industry experts argue that Seres’ entry into the humanoid robot sector is a calculated move to carve out a unique competitive edge in a crowded NEV market. Zhou Di, a member of the National Science and Technology Expert Database who participated in formulating robot national standards, noted that as NEV competition intensifies, differentiation has become crucial for automakers seeking breakthroughs. “Focusing on humanoid robots, especially embodied intelligence, could be the key for Seres to build a differentiated competitive edge,” Zhou told China Business Journal.
The synergy between humanoid robots and NEVs in technical domains further reinforces Seres’ strategy. Zhou explained that humanoid robots, as a fusion of intelligent hardware and artificial intelligence, share significant technological overlaps with NEVs in perception systems, control algorithms, and power systems. “Incorporating humanoid robots helps Seres construct a more complete smart vehicle ecosystem, strengthening its brand image as an intelligent technology provider while potentially unlocking new business models and incremental markets,” he said. “In an era where traditional automakers are transitioning to intelligence, those who integrate robot and automotive technologies earlier will gain a competitive advantage.”
This strategic layout is not just theoretical. Seres has been systematically advancing its robot-related initiatives. Since the second half of 2024, the company has been actively recruiting for technical roles in humanoid robots, including embodied intelligence control engineers, embedded software developers (focused on motor-robot systems), and robot product managers, with most positions based at its Chongqing R&D hub. These hiring efforts, combined with the establishment of joint ventures and trademark registrations—such as “ROBOREX” in October 2024—signal Seres’ comprehensive involvement in the robot industry chain.
Cross-Industry Expansion: From Automaker to Intelligent Technology Firm
Seres’ investments in humanoid robots extend beyond technology and talent. In December 2023, it partnered with a company controlled by the Chongqing Municipal Finance Bureau to establish Chongqing Seres Phoenix Intelligent Creation Technology Co., Ltd., with a registered capital of 1.22 billion yuan, specifically to undertake robot-related businesses. The subsequent establishment of Beijing Saihang Embodied Intelligence Technology Co., Ltd. in March 2025 further solidifies its position in R&D, sales, and service-oriented consumer robot manufacturing.
Hong Shibin, an industry observer, emphasized the strategic importance of Seres’ move. “In a hyper-competitive NEV market, expanding into robot technology not only provides a differentiated path but could also become a key driver for the next technological breakthrough,” Hong said. “Humanoid robot ontology technology is a critical component for future smart vehicle development, significantly enhancing vehicle intelligence and strengthening core competitiveness in areas like intelligent driving and interactive experience.”
Moreover, robot technology serves as a cornerstone for future smart manufacturing and intelligent living, offering Seres opportunities for cross-industry expansion. “By laying out in this field, Seres can both reinforce its technical barriers in NEVs and explore new business models and growth trajectories, facilitating its transformation from an automaker to an intelligent technology enterprise,” Hong added.
Automakers Race to Embrace Humanoid Robots
Seres is not alone in eyeing the humanoid robot sector. As the NEV market entered a phase of intense competition in 2024, more automakers have turned to humanoid robots as a frontier for differentiation and new growth. Whether through in-house R&D, partnerships, or university-industry collaborations, humanoid robots have become a key means for automakers to accelerate intelligent transformation and build future industrial ecosystems.
Changan Automobile, for instance, publicly disclosed its humanoid robot R&D project on [date missing in document], seeking high-quality suppliers worldwide. The project focuses on core technologies like drive systems, dynamic control, and multimodal perception, aiming to promote the development of humanoid robots toward high performance, low cost, and high reliability through technological innovation and industrial collaboration. In November 2024, Changan announced a plan to invest over 50 billion yuan in the next five years for strategic fields including land-sea-air transportation solutions and humanoid robots, with a goal to launch a flying car by 2026 and a practical humanoid robot by 2027.
GAC Group has adopted an iterative approach to advance embodied intelligence robot technology. Its third-generation humanoid robot product, “GoMate,” was released to the public, with plans to achieve mass production of self-developed components in 2025 to meet diverse industry and market needs. By 2026, GoMate is expected to enter small-batch 整机 production (整机: complete machine) and gradually transition to large-scale mass production. GAC intends to first deploy the robot in demonstration applications at production lines and industrial parks of its brands like GAC Trumpchi and GAC Aion, enhancing its technical practice and application capabilities in smart manufacturing.
XPeng Motors, which has an early lead in intelligent driving, recently unveiled its new humanoid robot “IRON.” He Xiaopeng, the company’s chairman, stated that XPeng aims to leverage its technical 积累 (积累: accumulation) in L3 autonomous driving and world model technology to drive the R&D of industrial-grade L3 humanoid robots, with the goal of achieving mass production by 2026.
Other automakers have chosen to collaborate with leading robot companies. For example, BYD, Geely, and Lynk & Co have all partnered with UBtech, a top robot enterprise, to accelerate practical implementation using UBtech’s mature technology and product systems. UBtech has deployed its industrial Walker S series robots to multiple automakers for the first phase of single-machine autonomous intelligent training, which has now entered the “training 2.0 stage” involving multi-machine collaborative training and data accumulation to enhance model performance and speed up product iteration.
Challenges on the Commercialization Path
While automakers are flocking to the humanoid robot sector, the commercialization of these complex systems—integrating AI, mechanical engineering, perception control, and other disciplines—faces significant hurdles. The technical complexity of humanoid robots, coupled with high R&D costs and the need for interdisciplinary collaboration, presents major challenges for mass production and market adoption.
Additionally, defining clear application scenarios and user needs remains a key obstacle. While automakers envision humanoid robots contributing to smart manufacturing, intelligent logistics, and even household services, translating these visions into viable business models requires overcoming technical bottlenecks and cost constraints. For instance, achieving human-like mobility, dexterity, and environmental adaptability in robots remains a significant technical challenge, while reducing production costs to make them economically feasible for widespread use is another uphill battle.
Moreover, the industry lacks unified standards and regulations, which could hinder seamless integration of humanoid robots into existing industrial and social systems. As more automakers enter the field, competition will not only drive innovation but also necessitate collaborative efforts to establish industry norms and safety standards.
Future Outlook: A Converging Landscape of Mobility and Intelligence
The entry of automakers like Seres into the humanoid robot sector signals a broader trend toward integrating mobility and intelligent systems. As NEV manufacturers seek to expand beyond traditional vehicle manufacturing, humanoid robots represent a natural extension of their technological capabilities, enabling them to participate in the broader smart ecosystem.
Experts predict that the convergence of automotive and robot technologies will accelerate in the coming years, with humanoid robots potentially playing a pivotal role in transforming industries from manufacturing to services. For Seres, success in the humanoid robot sector could not only diversify its revenue streams but also strengthen its technological leadership in the NEV market, fulfilling its vision of evolving into a comprehensive intelligent technology provider.
However, the road ahead is fraught with challenges, and whether Seres can achieve its “second breakthrough” in the humanoid robot track will depend on its ability to navigate technical complexities, build strategic partnerships, and adapt to rapidly changing market demands. As the industry watches closely, Seres’ journey in this frontier field serves as a microcosm of China’s automakers striving to redefine themselves in the era of intelligent transformation.