The endorsement of humanoid robots by major automotive companies marks a significant pivot in the landscape of both the automotive industry and roboticsRecently, BYD, a leading Chinese electric vehicle producer, made headlines by announcing its foray into the humanoid robot sector when it published recruitment details for its 2025 Embodied Intelligence Research TeamThis ambitious initiative invites analysts and engineers across various disciplines, such as senior algorithm specialists, structural engineers, and simulation engineers, to contribute to projects that span humanoid and bipedal robots.
By unveiling these recruitment details, BYD is heralding its entry into the humanoid robotics arena, where it's already made notable advancementsAccording to the company, the team has successfully developed a range of technologies, encompassing smart collaboration, intelligent movement, and humanoid robot prototypes.
In recent years, BYD has established itself as one of the foremost beneficiaries of the electric automotive boom, but it seems that in the booming field of smart technology, the company has been playing catch-up
By investing heavily in technological expertise and talent acquisition since last year, BYD is positioning itself to expand its capabilitiesWith impressive monthly sales reaching 500,000 vehicles, the company is well-equipped to explore additional smart technology avenues, and humanoid robots represent a critical step in that direction.
During the celebration of BYD's 30th anniversary and the unveiling of its 10 millionth new energy vehicle, Chairman Wang Chuanfu announced a formidable investment of 100 billion RMB (approximately $15.5 billion) aimed at the development of integration between artificial intelligence and automotive technologies, propelling the entirety of vehicle manufacturing towards an advanced state of automation and intelligence.
In addition to staffing up on robotics talent, BYD has shown keen interest in nurturing startups that focus on humanoid robotics
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Notably, it invested early in UBTECH Robotics, often dubbed China’s "first stock of humanoid robots," which has consistently pushed the boundaries of robot development since its inception.
Another prominent example of BYD’s investment strategy involves its stake in Zhiyuan Robotics, launched by the innovative entrepreneur Peng Zhihui, who gained recognition after his stint at HuaweiBYD invested over 191,000 RMB for a 2.5% stake in the company last August, showcasing its readiness to partner with pioneering firms in the robotics domain.
This strategic move into humanoid robots enhances BYD's commitment to intelligent manufacturing, an aspect that is becoming increasingly imperative in today’s automotive landscapeAs many car manufacturers highlight their intelligent manufacturing capabilities, BYD recognizes that it must compete at this level to remain relevantThe shift to intelligent production processes and robotics is not just advisable; it’s essential for survival.
Moreover, the automotive industry is beginning to view robotics as integral to its identity
For example, Xiaomi's recent comments about the automated production lines of their SU7 model, where a staggering 400 robots achieve a remarkable 91% automation rate, illustrate the technological advancement trend within the industryBYD also recognizes that in order to maintain competitive edges, it must embrace similar advancements in manufacturing intelligence.
BYD has long employed a labor-intensive production model, often described as the "human wave tactic." This strategy originally involved breaking down automated production into segments operable by human workers supplemented by basic machinery to reduce costsAs a result, BYD’s workforce has ballooned to over 900,000 employeesHowever, as labor costs continue to rise, there is a pressing need for BYD to innovate and embrace automation through robotics to mitigate expenses further.
The current scale of collaboration between BYD and humanoid robotics has manifested in the partnership with UBTECH, which is noteworthy
In October of this year, UBTECH introduced its latest industrial robot model, the Walker S1. This robot has been successfully integrated into BYD’s automotive factory, where it operates in tandem with Level 4 autonomous logistics vehicles, drone forklifts, and other industrial moving robots.
This isn’t an isolated development—other automotive companies globally have recognized the potential of humanoid robots, manifesting in their own projectsFor example, Tesla revealed its humanoid robot, Optimus, in May, showcasing its ability to perform tasks like sorting batteries and self-correcting its actions during operations, which marks significant progress in the field.
Moreover, domestic competitors like Xpeng and GAC are also pursuing humanoid robotics initiativesXpeng unveiled its humanoid robot, dubbed Iron, during its tech day earlier this yearWith a bionic structure and built-in AI capabilities, Iron is now operational within Xpeng’s manufacturing environment
Similarly, GAC has recently demonstrated its second-generation self-developed humanoid robot and is progressing into its third iteration.
The immediate advantages of humanoid robots for automotive companies are clear; they lead to a more intelligent lifecycle for vehicles, acting in roles that range from assembly line assistance to engagements in sales contextsHowever, beyond immediate efficiency gains, the long-term potential of humanoid robots could unlock entirely new revenue streamsThese machines could take on tasks far too hazardous for human workers, like rescue operations in emergency situations, or perform care duties in homes, such as monitoring elder safety.
As automotive competition intensifies, many companies are recognizing the value in diversifying their skill sets and extending their services into various layers of technologyThe significant relationship between smart cars and humanoid robotics illustrates why these companies are racing to enter this realm