Chinese automaker BYD has confirmed its entry into the humanoid robot sector, extending its expertise beyond electric vehicles and batteries. In a recent interview, BYD Executive Vice President Stella Li explained that the company is developing humanoid robots and would leverage its extensive dealer network to distribute these products if they become suitable for household use.
Li highlighted the company’s competitive edge in combining manufacturing capabilities with advanced software and hardware development. She noted that BYD’s automotive artificial intelligence technologies share the same foundations as its robotics efforts, providing a natural advantage in this emerging market. To foster innovation, BYD plans to establish an open robot platform that supports both in-house designs and collaborative projects with external partners.
According to local media reports, BYD’s robotics initiative is already underway. Li emphasized that adapting automotive software for use in robots is relatively straightforward given the complexity of modern vehicle systems. She also expressed confidence that China could lead the commercialization of humanoid robots, observing that domestic offerings often lack sophisticated “brains,” while some overseas models struggle with limb functionality. BYD aims to deliver practical robots with balanced capabilities in both areas.
As production scales, BYD anticipates becoming one of the primary users of its own robots. The company previously explored deploying humanoid robots as sales guides in European showrooms to address local staffing challenges.
The move follows a broader trend of automakers entering the robotics sector. Chery’s Aimoga brand has begun retailing humanoid robots to consumers at around 285,800 yuan (approximately $42,260), while SAIC-GM has deployed wheeled humanoid units on its battery assembly lines. However, some industry leaders remain cautious; NIO’s CEO recently stated that the company will focus on vehicle sales before pursuing robotics.
In a related development, PaXini, a robotics firm backed by BYD, raised over 1 billion yuan in March, boosting its valuation above 10 billion yuan. The company is reportedly considering an initial public offering in Hong Kong.
Source: CnEVPost
