China’s Unitree Aims to Ship 20,000 Humanoid Robots in 2026

Unitree Robotics is planning a major production ramp-up, aiming to ship up to 20,000 humanoid robots in 2026. The target marks a sharp rise from the roughly 5,500 units the company shipped last year.

The ambitious target follows a widely watched appearance at China’s annual Spring Festival Gala, broadcast by state media giant China Central Television (CCTV). The event, known for drawing massive domestic and international audiences, has increasingly become a showcase for the country’s robotics progress.

Speaking to Chinese media outlet 36Kr after the show, Unitree CEO Wang Xingxing said global humanoid robot shipments could reach “tens of thousands” this year, with his company accounting for around 10,000 to 20,000 units, according to SCMP.

Unitree first gained mainstream attention at last year’s gala with relatively basic robotic movements. This year’s performance, however, signaled a notable leap.

The Hangzhou-based firm’s humanoid robots performed complex martial arts routines, executed trampoline somersaults reaching three meters, and ran at speeds of up to four meters per second, roughly 14 km/h. The company said its G1 robots carried out the kung fu segment “fully autonomously.”

Wang told 36Kr, “These innovations are very practical and will facilitate large-scale group deployment of robots in the future.” He also clarified that a robot’s fall during the performance had been pre-planned as part of the routine, according to SCMP.

Other machines featured during the event included the company’s human-sized H2 humanoid and its B2-W robot dogs. Several other Chinese robotics firms, including Magiclab, Galbot, and Noetix, also participated in the gala.

Controlled conditions, real-world questions

For all the showmanship, some observers caution that a flawless stage performance doesn’t necessarily translate to factory-floor readiness.

“Robots may struggle in real-world environments, but on stage they hold all the advantages,” said technology analyst Patrick Zhang in his Geopolitechs newsletter, quoted by SCMP.

Wang has acknowledged the same concern, describing practical deployment outside controlled environments as the next major challenge. Unitree is collaborating with partners to develop embodied AI systems that serve as the robot’s “brain,” enabling machines to navigate complex and unpredictable environments more independently.

Unitree’s ambitious production targets come as a wave of Chinese robotics companies look far beyond the domestic market, positioning themselves as formidable competitors to Western players like Tesla. 

Shenzhen-based LimX Dynamics, for instance, is already exploring business collaborations in the US after showcasing its humanoid at CES, with founder Will Zhang saying, “More than money, I’m focused on local partnerships.” The company has secured its first foreign backer from the Middle East and expects to begin shipping robots there this year, highlighting a broader strategy of using partnerships to gain a foothold overseas.

While Western competitors like Tesla target a late-2027 release for the Optimus robot, Chinese manufacturers are already securing a dominant global footprint through aggressive production.

In 2025, global humanoid shipments reached approximately 13,000 units, with Chinese firms like Agibot and Unitree accounting for nearly 80% of that volume. This surge has led Morgan Stanley to double its 2026 sales forecast for China to 28,000 units, signaling a rapid transition from research models to industrial-scale deployment.

For more on Chinese humanoid robots stepping into the spotlight, read our coverage of their San Francisco boxing match and budding robot fight league.

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