\n<\/p>\n
The hype around humanoid robots isn\u2019t particularly new. Thank Tesla CEO Elon Musk and his Optimus robot, as well as the myriad videos of Boston Dynamics\u2019 Atlas robot, for that. <\/p>\n
Behind that hype, though, there is real progress. The physical capabilities of robots continue to improve, and researchers now\u00a0believe that the AI techniques behind large language models can make complex robots capable of learning nearly any task.<\/p>\n
Those tailwinds have encouraged a new batch of companies to jump in on the promise of profits from humanoid robots. And many of the latest entrants are Chinese automakers. <\/p>\n
Earlier this week, Xpeng\u2019s robotics unit raised more than $900 million<\/a> at a post-money valuation of more than $6.3 billion. The round, led by IDG Capital with participation from Gaorong Ventures, Tencent, and Alibaba, was described by the company as the largest single-round private financing ever recorded in China\u2019s \u201cembodied AI\u201d industry (AI systems built directly into physical machines).<\/p>\n This month, AiMOGA, the robotics unit of China\u2019s Chery Automobile, reportedly began preparing for an IPO<\/a>, while BYD unveiled a humanoid robot called Xiao Di. Other Chinese automakers, including Changan, GAC, Li Auto, SAIC, and Seres, are also developing humanoid robots.<\/p>\n Among all of them, Xpeng is the Chinese automaker that most closely watches and follows Tesla\u2019s initiatives, according to Michael Dunne, CEO of San Diego- and Singapore-based advisory firm Dunne Insights.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s the most focused on autonomy, it\u2019s the first to commit in a big way to humanoid robots,\u201d Dunne told TechCrunch, adding that Xpeng founder He Xiaopeng is a tech billionaire known for his agility and quick adjustments. \u201cHe sees razor-thin profit in cars on the near horizon. Robots look much more promising.\u201d<\/p>\n Xiaopeng and Xpeng co-president\u00a0Brian Gu are bullish enough that they\u2019ve put their own funds behind the robotics unit. According to the Wall Street Journal<\/a>, the pair invested about $100 million into the recent fundraising round.<\/p>\n Xpeng\u2019s bet is on Iron, a humanoid robot with a realistic human shape that is built for commercial deployment. <\/p>\n Chinese automakers like Xpeng do bring a manufacturing edge. <\/p>\n \u201cThey have all the hardware to get the job done,\u201d Dunne said. \u201cQuestion is if they can catch Tesla on the AI side of the equation.\u201d<\/p>\n There are, of course, many other companies developing humanoid robots, including Agility Robotics, Apptronik<\/a>, and Figure, all chasing the same goal: commercial deployment at scale.<\/p>\n Hyundai-owned Boston Dynamics is getting closer to that goal. Hyundai plans to bring Boston Dynamics\u2019 Atlas humanoid robot to its Georgia factory this year and eventually deploy the robots for tasks like parts sequencing by 2028. The Korean automaker, which partnered with Google\u2019s AI research lab DeepMind to speed up the development of Atlas<\/a>, is opening a U.S. facility this year called a Robot Metaplant Application Center, which will teach robots how to map movements like lifts and turns.<\/p>\n Other automotive companies are also jumping, including supplier Mobileye, which acquired<\/a> humanoid robot startup Mentee Robotics earlier this year for $900 million. Even Rivian is dabbling in robots with its Mind Robotics spinout<\/a> \u2014 although its robots are not expected to look<\/a> quite like the humanoids in development elsewhere.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n When you purchase through links in our articles, we may earn a small commission<\/a>. This doesn\u2019t affect our editorial independence.<\/em><\/p>\n