Editor’s note: This article was written by Lucia, a TechNode reporter.
What does a humanoid robot boom actually look like? In China, it is taking shape not only in capital investment and production, but in the growing range of places where robots are being put to use.
Unitree helped put China’s robotics boom on the global radar, with quadruped and humanoid robots that drew attention through high-profile demos and commercial sales. In August 2026, Unitree listed on Shanghai’s STAR Market, with shares opening at RMB 1,100 — 629% above the RMB 150.80 offering price — and briefly valuing the company at RMB 444.9 billion. Two weeks later, the stock had fallen by more than half.
The correction, however, has not erased Unitree’s operating momentum. The company generated RMB 1.15 billion in first-half revenue, up 48.5% year over year, while cumulative production of its bipedal humanoid robots reached about 18,000 units.
Overseas investors are also increasing their exposure to China’s robotics sector. KraneShares’ KOID humanoid-robotics ETF holds Unitree alongside other Chinese robotics companies, while Defiance launched a U.S.-listed ETF focused on China’s humanoid robotics ecosystem.
