Chinese new energy vehicle brands are starting to pioneer competition in a new field, namely the robotics industry.
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Nearly 20 automakers have entered the robotics sector through research and development, subsidiaries, or industrial investments, as embodied intelligence enters the industrialization stage, according to the Beijing Daily.
The company introduced its IRON humanoid robot last November. It is designed with a humanoid spine, bionic muscles, and flexible skin. IRON uses the same chip, perception system, and end-to-end model as those used in smart cars, and began trial production in small batches at a factory in Guangzhou in July.
The company has signed an agreement to build a 110,000-square-meter production base in the southern Chinese city, with a target production capacity of over 1,000 units per month by the end of the year.
Li Auto confirmed in May that it had begun R&D on humanoid robots, viewing autonomous driving and multi-purpose humanoids as two key components of tangible intelligence.
In contrast, NIO is committed to "investing, rather than building," by supporting a tangible AI startup founded by the head of its intelligent driving technology division.
In addition to independent development, industrial cooperation and investment are also important channels. In August, BYD signed a strategic partnership agreement with PaXini Tech to promote the application of robots in industrial manufacturing processes.
Meanwhile, ModelBest and Geely's AI center jointly launched a tangible intelligence agent framework in July, which is now routinely used in Geely's factories.
Additionally, components such as electric motors, batteries, controllers, as well as expertise in supply chain management, quality control, and mass production also have relevance to the robotics industry.
Cui said that automotive factories are ideal places to implement humanoid robots, as tasks such as material handling, loading and unloading, assembly, and quality inspection involve relatively repetitive work.
"Automakers can deploy robots in their own factories for testing and continuously collect data in real-world environments to improve their products," Cui said.
Cui suggested a path of "business customers first, households second; specialized applications first, general-purpose applications second."
"If robots evolve from industrial environments to commercial services and even household consumption in the future, automakers' stores, after-sales services, and overseas networks could potentially become new sales and service channels for them," Cui added.
However, unlike the automotive sector, which is supported by a mature parts supply chain for mass production, humanoid robots still rely on core components and an immature supply chain, a point Tesla also emphasized regarding its Optimus humanoid robot.
The Chinese government's latest five-year development roadmap has placed tangible intelligence as one of its priority future industries.
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