In Shanghai’s Lin-gang Special Area, a cutting-edge factory run by AI and robotics startup AgiBot is leading the charge in mass-producing humanoid robots. Despite being operational for less than a year, the facility has already manufactured over 1,500 robots, with plans to open a second factory in 2025 to achieve an annual capacity of 10,000 units.
The robots, priced under 200,000 yuan (S$36,000), are less expensive than many family cars, according to AgiBot’s co-founder Peng Zhihui. Initially targeting a monthly output of 100 units, the factory now produces over 15 robots daily due to growing market demand.
As 2025 marks the anticipated launch of widespread humanoid robot production, Chinese companies like AgiBot are showcasing their technological advancements. The China Electronics Society predicts the country’s humanoid robot market will reach 870 billion yuan by 2030, with embodied AI—a concept integrating artificial intelligence into physical hardware—highlighted as a key area of innovation.
AgiBot attributes its rapid growth to Shanghai’s robust manufacturing ecosystem and the Yangtze River Delta’s mature supply chains, particularly crossover components from the electric vehicle industry. The company has leveraged synergies with new energy sectors to produce robots at scale efficiently.
In addition to assembling robots, AgiBot focuses on developing their “brains” by training them with an advanced AI model, GO-1, launched last week. This model enables robots to generalize tasks with minimal training, using human demonstrations and video data to enhance contextual understanding. At AgiBot’s training center, 100 robots learn real-world tasks like pouring tea and folding laundry, generating action datasets crucial for improving the AI model.
While the initial focus remains on repetitive industrial tasks, AgiBot envisions broader applications for humanoid robots, filling gaps between rigid automation and human labor. As technologies evolve, these machines may redefine industries by combining flexibility and intelligence.