The Chinese representative humanoid robotics corporation, Unitree Robotics (Chinese name: 愉利科机器人, hereafter referred to as Unitree), has launched two types of humanoid robots capable of performing various movements, including dancing, through an online e-commerce platform. Although the sales concluded in a short time, there are analyses suggesting glimpses of the potential for the popularization of humanoid robots. The Chinese humanoid robot market is expected to grow by more than 50% annually starting this year, particularly focusing on the development of technologies for elderly care as the aging population rapidly increases.
On the 13th, according to the Chinese media outlet Interface News, Unitree (hereafter referred to as Unitree) unveiled two humanoid robot models, 'H1' and 'G1,' to consumers the previous day on the e-commerce platform JD.com with a delivery condition of within 60 days at a price of 650,000 yuan (approximately 130 million won). The H1 model became famous for performing a traditional dance from northeastern China during the Spring Festival (Lunar New Year) gala show 'Spring Festival Gala' aired by China Central Television (CCTV) last month. This model is designed for industrial settings including manufacturing and service sectors. The G1 can perform various actions such as standing, sitting, and running and features flexible hands capable of power control, making it suitable for daily living assistance. It is priced at 99,000 yuan (approximately 20 million won) with a delivery condition of within 45 days.
Unitree ceased the sale of the robots a few hours later, and they are currently unavailable for purchase. In response, a Unitree consultant on JD.com noted, "The robots sold this time are all standard versions and do not include any functionalities, leading to the (early) end of sales," adding that they could be launched once optimizations are completed. The economic media outlet Cai Lian Sha reported, "Since humanoid robots have never been sold directly to consumers before, the market has a lot of curiosity about individual (robot) purchases, placement, usage, and safety." It appears that Unitree designed the 'flash sale' to gauge consumer reactions.
Unitree's recent endeavor has sparked discussions about the potential for popularizing humanoid robots. Analyses suggest that there is sufficient demand within China. Wang Xingxing, the founder of Unitree, shared a military dance photo featuring the H1 during the Spring Festival on the Chinese social media platform Xiaohongshu, which has garnered over 2,300 comments. The comments include requests for robots for elderly care and household assistance. There are also opinions suggesting that instead of having children, savings should be redirected towards purchasing humanoid robots. The Hong Kong South China Morning Post (SCMP) stated, "This reaction indicates that there is an increasing demand for home-use humanoid robots in China."
Humanoid robots still have a long way to go to assist with people's daily lives. SCMP stated, "For general consumers, humanoid robots remain limited to performances that imply potential," adding, "They have yet to provide concrete and direct support in performing everyday tasks." Currently, humanoid robots are primarily used in industrial settings such as logistics and manufacturing. In service industry contexts, they are mainly deployed as guides for tours or used to attract visitors in museums and exhibitions, as reported by SCMP. The global robotics industry is also fiercely competing in the development for military purposes.
However, there are forecasts that the mass production and global commercialization of humanoid robots in the Chinese market will see rapid progress starting this year. According to the 'Humanoid Robot Industry Research Report' presented at the 1st China Humanoid Industry Conference held last year, the size of the Chinese humanoid robot market is expected to expand from 2.76 billion yuan (approximately 550 billion won) last year to 75 billion yuan (approximately 14.9 trillion won) by 2029. If this occurs, the global market share will reach 33%. The report predicts that the Chinese humanoid robot market will grow by more than 50% annually from 2025 to 2035, potentially reaching 30 billion yuan (approximately 59.6 trillion won) by 2035.
Notably, as China's population ages rapidly, efforts in developing humanoid robots for elderly care are expected to be intensified. According to China's National Bureau of Statistics, as of the end of last year, the population aged 60 and over in China was 310.31 million, accounting for 22% of the total population. It is anticipated that by 2035, the population aged 60 and over will surpass 400 million, marking China’s entry into an ultra-aging society. Wang Lei, chairman of Qingbao Engine Robotics, noted, "The elderly care sector is an area with infinite potential," suggesting that if in the future the price of elderly care robots is around 50,000 yuan (approximately 1 million won), and if one robot is purchased for every 30 elderly people among 300 million elderly individuals, the market size could reach 500 billion yuan (approximately 100 trillion won).