Once regarded as a distant science fiction concept, “robots” are now rapidly becoming a reality, making a strong return to public discourse. From industrial manufacturing to humanoid assistants, from laboratories to daily life, they are changing our world.
1. Current Status and Trends of the Global Robotics Industry
Industrial Robots: Record Installation Numbers
According to the International Federation of Robotics (IFR), by 2025, the global industrial robot installation market is expected to reach a record size of 16.5 billion USD, reflecting the manufacturing industry’s ongoing demand for automation.
AI Modules Accelerate Intelligent Upgrades
NVIDIA has released the Jetson Thor module, which enhances AI performance by 7.5 times compared to the previous Orin module, with CPU performance improving by 3.1 times and memory doubling. This means that the “thinking speed” of robots is significantly increasing.
South Korea Forms Humanoid Robot Alliance
In April 2025, South Korea initiated the establishment of the K-Humanoid Alliance, composed of government, universities, and enterprises, aimed at integrating industrial resources to enhance the competitiveness of the Korean industry.
2. Overview of Robot Development in China
Leading in Market Size and Production Capacity
China has been the world’s largest industrial robot market for 12 consecutive years, with industrial robot sales expected to reach 302,000 units in 2024, and production soaring to 556,000 units. Service robots have also surpassed 10 million units, with a year-on-year growth of 34.3%.
The Chinese market is significant, with a market value of approximately 25.1 billion USD in 2024, and is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 23% to reach about 108 billion USD by 2028.
Significant Progress in Domestic Substitution
Currently, the market share of domestic industrial robots has risen to 51.6%, with an annual increase of 4.5%. The robot density in China has also increased from 25 units/10,000 people in 2013 to 470 units/10,000 people in 2023.
Humanoid Robot Technology Evolution
Intensive policy guidance has led to new breakthroughs in humanoid robot technology. The “14th Five-Year Plan” for Intelligent Manufacturing and the “Guidelines for the Innovative Development of Humanoid Robots” emphasize achieving high-dynamic walking control technology by 2025.
Innovative Companies: From Experimentation to Implementation
•Zhongqing Robotics: In 2025, they will complete the world’s first robot front flip stunt, with the SE01 model having appeared at the CCTV New Year’s Gala, featuring 32 degrees of freedom and a walking speed of 2 m/s.
•Yushu Technology: After the launch of the quadruped robot Go1, they will introduce the humanoid robot H1 in 2024, showcasing backflips and excellent gait stability.
•ZhiYuan Robotics (AgiBot): The founder was a member of Huawei’s “Genius Youth Program,” and with investments from Sequoia Capital and Hillhouse, they will achieve mass production delivery in 2024.
Strengthening Infrastructure and Index Monitoring
Beijing and Shanghai have established national-level “Embodied Intelligent Robot Innovation Centers” and “Humanoid Robot Innovation Centers,” with several provinces setting up provincial-level innovation platforms to form a collaborative network.
Additionally, Caixin Think Tank has released the “China Robotics Industry Index” (RII), enhancing the tracking and analysis capabilities of industry development.
3. Application Scenarios and Industry Innovations
Public Services and Technology Demonstrations
At a high-speed rail graduation ceremony, the “Shuangshuang” robot took the stage to receive a diploma, attracting media attention and symbolizing the integration of robots into public ceremonies.
In Shenzhen, “embodied AI” is gradually becoming popular, with delivery robots and inspection robots entering the public service sector, although full automation still requires improved infrastructure.
Strategic Events Accelerate Technology Application
Beijing hosted the world’s first humanoid robot Olympics, with over 500 robots participating in athletics, soccer, dance, and other events. This is not only a skills competition but also a platform for technology testing and social demonstration.
Global Competition and Industry Landscape
Market research institutions predict that the humanoid robot market will reach a global scale of 5 trillion USD by 2050, with China expected to account for 3.023 million units, making it the largest application country for humanoid robots.
While the US leads in software, its hardware manufacturing capabilities lag behind. China, through government subsidies and industrial chain development, is at a clear advantage.
Global Expansion and Application Scenario Development
Chinese automotive companies are establishing a presence in Singapore with Robotaxi, and commercial trials for autonomous buses and ride-hailing services are accelerating.
4. Robots Driving China’s Future Transformation
Changes in Labor Structure Drive Demand
China’s low-cost introduction of industrial robots helps address labor aging; in a WEF report, 90% of enterprises view AI and robots as core transformation tools.
Policy Support Steadily Implemented
“Embodied Intelligence” has been included as a key national industry, with industrial guidance proposing significant breakthroughs in robot technology to promote the industrialization of key equipment.
Market Opportunities and Industry Collaboration
The robotics industry chain encompasses elements such as sensors, servos, and software. Domestic leading enterprises drive upstream and downstream collaboration, accelerating market response speed.
Summary and Outlook
1.International Perspective: The global robotics market is booming, with AI smart chips accelerating computing power improvements, and South Korea laying out its humanoid industry ecosystem.
2.Chinese Perspective: The industry scale and production capacity are leading, with domestic brands rising strongly and innovation centers enhancing the development ecosystem.
3.Frontier Applications: Public services, event demonstrations, and international expansion continue to heat up.
4.Future Directions: Policy guidance, industry collaboration, solutions for aging populations, and intensified global technological competition.