Beijing, China - China's robotics industry is experiencing a significant surge, with over 63,000 new robot-related companies registered this year alone, according to a report by Guangming.cn. This influx has pushed the total number of robot enterprises in the nation to over 863,000.
Regionally, Guangdong province leads with the highest number of robot companies, followed by Jiangsu province. Together, these two powerhouses account for approximately 31.4% of the total, with over 271,000 robot-related businesses. Shandong, Zhejiang, and Shanghai also demonstrate a strong presence in the sector.
The Chinese robot market reached a substantial scale of over 155 billion yuan (approximately $21.4 billion USD) in 2024. Notably, service robots constitute the largest segment, accounting for 45% of the market share, followed by industrial and specialized robots. This growth aligns with broader trends indicating China as the world's largest market for industrial robots, with over 276,000 units installed in 2023, representing 51% of global installations, according to the International Federation of Robotics. Furthermore, China held over 190,000 effective robot-related patents as of July 2024, approximately two-thirds of the global total.
Adding to this dynamic growth is the burgeoning market for humanoid robot rentals, as highlighted by China.org.cn. The popularity of humanoid robots, particularly UNITREE's G1 model, is soaring across various applications such as shopping malls and exhibitions. With daily rental fees ranging from 8,000 to 15,000 yuan (approximately $1,100 to $2,100 USD), some companies are reportedly recouping their investment in a single month due to high demand.
UNITREE's G1 robot, known for its agility and capabilities, has become a sought-after commodity in the rental market, with supply struggling to keep pace with demand. This trend is viewed by industry experts as a significant catalyst for the further activation of China's robot market. The rental market caters to businesses seeking to draw attention at events and exhibitions, with robots performing tasks like exhibition guidance and event planning being particularly popular.
Several factors contribute to this rapid expansion. China's commitment to modernizing production facilities and its strong investment in research and development have created a fertile ground for the robotics industry. The increasing sophistication of AI and related technologies is also enhancing the capabilities and applications of robots across various sectors.
While the humanoid robot rental market is currently focused on commercial applications and marketing, it signals a growing acceptance and interest in more advanced robotic technologies. As technology progresses and production scales up, potentially leading to lower costs, humanoid robots may find broader applications in various aspects of daily life in the future. The rapid growth in both the number of robot companies and the market size underscores China's ambition to become a global leader in the robotics revolution.
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