China's Agibot and Unitree dominate early humanoid robotics, shipping the vast majority of 2025's 13,317 global units. Faster model cycles, lower costs, and EV-derived supply chains give Chinese firms a structural edge over US rivals like Tesla Optimus.
Unitree released a cinematic bullet-time video showcasing the fluid movement and agility of its humanoid robots, going viral across social media.
Unitree, Galbot, Noetix, and MagicLab showcased advanced humanoid robots at the world's most-watched TV event, performing world-first acrobatics including 3m aerial flips, parkour sequences, and kung fu routines — a dramatic leap from last year.
At China's 2026 CCTV Spring Festival Gala on February 17, humanoid robots from Unitree, MagicLab, Noetix, and Beijing Galbot performed martial arts, acrobatics, and household tasks, showcasing rapid advances in motion control and embodied AI.
Unitree founder Wang Xingxing disclosed plans to ship between 10,000 and 20,000 G1 humanoid robots in 2026, nearly quadrupling last year's ~5,500 units. Morgan Stanley doubled its China humanoid sales forecast to 28,000 units, reflecting the sector's rapid shift from research to commercial scale.
Unitree, MagicLab, Noetix, and Galbot showcased humanoid robots performing martial arts, flips, and parkour at China's 2026 Spring Festival Gala on February 17, marking dramatic progress from 2025.