China is rapidly expanding a network of dedicated humanoid robot retail stores, essentially dealerships for walking machines, backed by tens of billions in government funding.
The robot dealership model
The flagship example is Beijing’s Robot Mall, which launched on August 7-8, 2025 and bills itself as the world’s first humanoid intelligent robot “4S store.” That term, 4S, is borrowed directly from China’s automotive retail format, which bundles sales, spare parts, service, and survey (customer feedback) under one roof.
The mall showcases over 100 robot models from more than 40 domestic brands.
A newer variation, the 7S store, opened in Wuhan and pushes the concept further. It adds rental services, modifications, and training to the mix.
