South Korean Media: Chinese Companies Dominate Top Three in Humanoid Robot Market!
On March 30, South Korea's media outlet JoongAng Economic Daily published an article stating that humanoid robots are no longer confined to laboratory experimentation stages but have entered a full-scale commercialization phase.
The performance of humanoid robots at this year’s Chinese Spring Festival Gala was not only hailed as a technological spectacle but also seen as a significant milestone in industrial transformation. These robots showcased advanced choreography and remarkably natural movements, demonstrating the progress of integrated artificial intelligence (AI), a technology rapidly driving market growth.
According to a report released by market research firm Counterpoint Research, global sales of humanoid robots broke through the $500 million mark for the first time in 2025. By 2027, total sales are expected to reach $4.4 billion, with hardware sales amounting to $2.9 billion and software and service revenues totaling $1.5 billion. This indicates nearly a ninefold increase in sales within just two years.
Chinese companies are leading the market. As of 2025, the top three companies globally accounted for 56% of total revenue, all of them Chinese firms. Shanghai-based Zhigene Robotics ranked first with 26.6% share, generating over $140 million in revenue, followed by Yujie Technology (18.5%) and Ubtech Robotics (10.7%).
These companies share a common trait: they possess "full-stack" capabilities spanning hardware manufacturing, software development, and data ecosystem integration. Leveraging their own production facilities, they have internalized robot hand and motion control technologies and even independently developed visual systems and AI models.
Zhigene Robotics has segmented its product line into three series—A, X, and G—and expanded operations into entertainment, data processing, services, and navigation. Yujie Technology enhanced mobility through its G1 platform, while Ubtech is expanding its presence in manufacturing and collaborating with companies such as Foxconn, Texas Instruments, and Airbus.
Revenue models are also evolving rapidly. The "Data-as-a-Service" model is emerging, enabling large-scale generation and management of real-world data; meanwhile, the "Robot-as-a-Service" model provides services via robot leasing rather than direct sales, reducing initial adoption costs and accelerating commercial expansion.
By application area, the entertainment and performance sector accounts for the largest share of sales at 26%, followed by data production and research (22%), smart manufacturing (17%), services and guidance (15%), and warehousing and logistics (6%). Notably, after two years of field testing, smart manufacturing is expected to see large-scale deployment in 2026.
Counterpoint Research stated: “At this critical juncture when the humanoid robotics industry is transitioning toward mass production, Chinese humanoid robot companies are leading the global commercialization process thanks to their strong technological capabilities and innovative business models. In the coming years, global revenues from humanoid robots will experience explosive growth.”
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1861049916679242/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author alone.