The global debut of humanoid robot fighting competitions in Hangzhou this year has thrust these mechanical marvels into the spotlight, marking a pivotal moment in their journey from sci-fi fantasy to tangible technological reality. As humanoid robots increasingly step into public view—from half-marathons to robotics sports meets—China’s capital market is responding with fervor. Over 109 A-share listed companies have plunged into the humanoid robot sector, collectively amassing a market value of 4.69 trillion yuan, as data from Wind Information shows. This surge reflects not just technological ambition but a strategic bet on an industry poised to reshape manufacturing, services, and daily life.
Policy Tailwinds: A Systematic Push for Innovation
China’s policy framework has emerged as a cornerstone of the humanoid robot industry’s rapid ascent. In 2023, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) unveiled the Guidelines for the Innovative Development of Humanoid Robots, outlining a clear roadmap: by 2025, establish a preliminary innovation system for humanoid robots; by 2027, enhance technological capabilities significantly, forge a secure supply chain, and build a globally competitive industrial ecosystem. This national strategy has trickled down to local governments, with economic powerhouses like Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen, and Jiangsu rolling out supportive policies and setting up industrial funds.
In February 2025, Beijing launched the Action Plan for Embodied Intelligence Technology Innovation and Industrial Cultivation (2025–2027), focusing on home services, elderly care, and healthcare. The plan emphasizes researching human-machine safety mechanisms and developing embodied intelligence robots that foster trust and collaboration. Meanwhile, over 10 local governments have established industrial funds ranging from 200 million to 10 billion yuan, channeling investments into robot 本体 (bodies), core components, and innovative applications. Shenzhen, a tech hub, debuted two major funds in May 2025: the Shenzhen Artificial Intelligence and Embodied Robot Industry Fund (2 billion yuan) and the Shenzhen AI Terminal Industry Investment Fund (5 billion yuan), underscoring the city’s commitment to leading the sector.
“China’s government demonstrates strategic foresight, injecting robust momentum into the humanoid robot industry,” noted Tao Bo, chief analyst for machinery at BOC Securities. “This top-down support lays the institutional foundation for the rapid maturity of the supply chain.” Morgan Asset Management echoes this sentiment, highlighting China’s strengths in hardware manufacturing and integration, as well as emerging prowess in software algorithms—evident in the launch of large models like DeepSeek and Zhiyuan Robotics. “With breakthroughs in algorithms, big data, and hardware platforms, Chinese firms are positioned to become global leaders in humanoid robotics,” the firm stated.
Corporate Maneuvers: From R&D to Scaled Deployment
On the corporate front, a mix of startups and tech giants are driving innovation. Companies like Unitree and Zhongqing Technology have emerged as trailblazers, achieving mass production of humanoid robots, while tech heavyweights such as Tencent and Huawei are pouring resources into R&D, multi-scenario applications, and industrial ecosystem building. A-share listed firms, in particular, are making bold moves to secure their place in the value chain.
Guangzhou Automobile Group (GAC) unveiled its third-generation embodied intelligence humanoid robot, GoMate, featuring a pioneering wheel-leg convertible configuration. The company plans to mass-produce self-developed components and deploy them in pilot projects by 2025, with small-batch production of the full robot slated for 2026. Suzhou Tianzhun Technology made waves in November 2024 with its humanoid robot brain controller, which has gained recognition from leading industry players and secured orders worth over 10 million yuan, giving it a significant first-mover advantage. Kede CNC, meanwhile, leverages its expertise in control algorithms, servo drives, and motors to develop solutions for humanoid robots’ “cerebellar” systems, enabling motion control, balance, and precise movements.
The 109 A-share humanoid robot concept stocks are predominantly clustered in machinery (46 firms), automotive (16), and power equipment (14) sectors. “Listed companies are primarily focused on R&D of core components—gear reducers, actuators, motors, sensors—and integrating humanoid robot technologies into real-world applications like industrial manufacturing, commercial services, and logistics,” explained Zheng Yangyang, an AI robotics industry researcher at 萨摩耶云科技集团 (Samoyun Technology Group). Some firms have developed 3D visual perception solutions for autonomous navigation and object recognition, while others are advancing battery technology to address battery life challenges.
Industry Challenges: Navigating Technical and Commercial Hurdles
Despite the sector’s optimism, humanoid robotics remains in the technical validation and commercial exploration phase. The China Academy of Information and Communications Technology (CAICT) categorizes humanoid robots into Lv1 to Lv5 levels, predicting that all-around humanoids will remain at Lv1 until 2028. This staging highlights significant obstacles ahead.
Zheng Yangyang identifies multiple challenges: “First, humanoid robots require highly complex motion control, perception, and autonomous decision-making, which still need breakthroughs. Second, R&D and production costs are high, especially for high-performance components and sensors, limiting large-scale commercialization. Third, safety in human-robot interaction is critical, but collision detection and flexible control technologies are incomplete. Finally, energy management and battery life fall short of long-term operational needs.”
Morgan Asset Management notes that while leading global humanoid robot manufacturers have achieved stable walking, their products lack true economic viability. “The core focus for top firms will be iterating large models and 落地 (deploying) specific scenarios. We expect to see humanoid robots land in economically viable scenarios within the next two years after technological upgrades.”
Long-Term Potential: A Trillion-Yuan Market on the Horizon
Despite near-term hurdles, the long-term outlook for humanoid robots is nothing short of revolutionary. The CAICT report forecasts that between 2040 and 2045, China’s humanoid robots will reach Lv4, enabling large-scale applications in industrial and service sectors, with the complete machine market size hitting 500 billion to 1 trillion yuan. After 2045, at Lv5, the market could surge to the 10-trillion-yuan tier, with over 100 million humanoid robots deployed across industries.
Huang Lin, chief analyst for midstream manufacturing at Huachuang Securities, envisions a “three-stage leap” for humanoid robots: from industrial manufacturing (e.g., automotive assembly, 3C electronics) and services (logistics, healthcare) in the short term to household penetration long-term. “Humanoid robots are not just a product of technological revolution but a strategic tool to solve social pain points and restructure production relations,” he said. “Chinese firms, through ‘hard tech breakthroughs + soft ecosystem collaboration,’ are reshaping the global industry landscape with a low-cost, high-efficiency ‘Chinese model.’” By 2035, Huang projects, humanoid robots will deeply integrate into the real economy, becoming a core engine of economic growth.
As China’s A-share firms continue to pour resources into R&D, component manufacturing, and ecosystem building, the country is positioning itself to lead the next wave of technological disruption. The race for the “iron man” track is not just about robotics—it’s a battle for dominance in the future of intelligent manufacturing and service economies, with humanoid robots at the forefront of this transformative journey.