China’s ambitious plan to dominate the humanoid robot market is rapidly taking shape, with the nation aiming to mass-produce these sophisticated machines by the end of this year. This initiative represents a significant escalation in the global race for automation supremacy, potentially reshaping manufacturing landscapes worldwide.

China’s Humanoid Revolution

Beijing’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) laid the groundwork for this technological leap forward in late 2023 when it published guidelines detailing the country’s humanoid robot development goals. The MIIT boldly declared that humanoids would likely become a disruptive technology on par with computers and smartphones, transforming both production methods and human lifestyles.

The scale of China’s commitment is staggering. According to The Robot Report, the nation aims to have approximately 500 robots per 10,000 workers by the end of 2025. This represents an unprecedented density of automation in the workforce, positioning China to potentially leapfrog competitors in manufacturing efficiency.

“China aims to establish a humanoid innovation system, make breakthroughs in several key technologies, and ensure the safe and effective supply of core components,” notes The Robot Report, adding that “by 2027, humanoids should be an important new engine of economic growth in China.”

The $100 Billion Mega-Factory

Central to China’s humanoid ambitions is what some observers have called a “$100 billion humanoid robot mega-factory.” This massive facility, unveiled in March 2025, is designed to produce thousands of advanced humanoid robots, potentially revolutionizing the robotics industry through economies of scale never before seen in this sector.

The manufacturing strategy appears to mirror China’s approach to electric vehicles—leveraging existing supply chains to drive down costs while rapidly scaling production. Industry analysts suggest Chinese companies might find ways to produce humanoid robots “at massive scale and at a fraction of the cost” compared to Western competitors.

Global Competition Intensifies

China’s push into humanoid robotics comes as competition in this space heats up globally. Tesla’s Optimus project remains a significant contender, with Elon Musk having declared humanoid robots could become a “$10 trillion business.” Figure AI, another prominent player, has established a facility called “Bot Q” with plans to produce thousands of Figure03 robots annually, eventually scaling up production capacity as demand increases.

The majority of companies that have publicly announced commercial humanoids to date are headquartered in North America. Oregon-based Agility Robotics, for example, recently opened a new manufacturing facility capable of producing 10,000 units per year when completed in 2024. The company’s Digit humanoid is currently being tested by Amazon in a research and development warehouse near Seattle.

Economic and Social Implications

The impending wave of advanced, AI-powered humanoid robots raises profound questions about workforce displacement. As these machines become “good enough and cheap enough,” they could potentially take over tasks in warehouses, factories, and even caregiving roles in nursing homes.

“We’re talking about mass unemployment or at least huge disruption,” note industry observers who point out that these systems, combined with advanced AI, can perform repetitive tasks, file taxes, or even design new AI architectures once given sufficient autonomy.

Chinese leadership clearly views humanoid robotics as a strategic technology. The guidelines published by the MIIT explicitly state that by 2027, humanoids should emerge as an “important new engine of economic growth” for the nation, signaling that China’s massive investment in this sector is intended not just to automate its factories but to create an entirely new export industry capable of transforming global manufacturing.