Humanoid Robots Begin Work at Xiaomi Factory

Xiaomi is deploying humanoid robots designed to resemble humans at its factory that produces its electric vehicles. This was announced directly by Xiaomi president Lu Weibing in an interview on the sidelines of the Mobile World Congress (MWC) technology fair in Barcelona. The Chinese company has deployed two humanoid robots at its factory. They are tasked with completing duties such as tightening bolts or moving items. The tasks are claimed to be completed to about 90 per cent within three hours. “To integrate the robots into our production line, the biggest challenge is ensuring they can keep up with the pace of work,” Lu Weibing told CNBC. “At Xiaomi’s car factory, a new car leaves the assembly line every 76 seconds. The two humanoid robots are able to keep up with our production speed,” the Xiaomi chief added. Nevertheless, the use of these robots remains in early trial stages. “The robots on our production line are not performing formal work; they are more like interns,” said Weibing. Apart from these claims, the effort highlights the speed with which Chinese companies invest in and advance their robotics capabilities. Moreover, many Chinese firms are developing the technology, some of which have recently embarked on initial public offerings (IPOs), such as Deep Robotics. Analysts at RBC Capital Markets also estimate that the global humanoid robot market could reach around $9 trillion by 2050, with 60 per cent of that coming from China. Weibing said it is still too early to project the humanoid robot market, although he is optimistic about the business. Xiaomi itself only introduced its humanoid robot named CyberOne in 2022. However, the robot has not yet been sold commercially, according to KompasTekno’s compilation from CNBC, Friday (6 March 2026). Chinese-made humanoid robots have progressed to the next level. Whereas previously these robots went viral for taking part in marathons or capable of swimming, their abilities are now far more impressive. Chinese-made humanoid robots can now perform sword-dancing, perform kung fu moves, and even do somersaults with ease. The display was shown at the annual CCTV Spring Festival Gala, the most-watched television programme in China during the Lunar New Year celebrations.