Byd enters humanoid robot race with august debut

Tessa’s biggest EV competitor BYD just revealed to the South China Morning Post that the humanoids are coming in August at Di Space. “Build Your Dreams” has, from meager battery manufacturing beginnings, become one of the world’s largest electric vehicle and clean technology companies. From cars to buses, trucks to SUVs, BYU manufactures key components such as batteries and semiconductors, which has allowed them to dominate the market as they produce most of what they need in-house. Whereas Tesla has emphasized software and autonomous driving, BYD has focused on manufacturing scale, battery technology, and a broad line-up of vehicles. And now – humanoids, just in time to take on Tesla’s Optimus. BYD announced that they will unveil their robots at their designated showroom, Di Space, in an interactive exhibit. They clarified to South China Morning Post that their humanoids will be functional. Attendees will be able to engage with the robots. Manufacturing giant will produce robots In 2025, reports began to surface that BYD had its sights set on embodied AI and humanoid robots. After all, considering what the company manufactures, AI would be a logical progression, which is why many electric vehicle companies are moving into humanoid robotics, with China leading the way with five companies ranking in the top 5 worldwide. In June, BYD’s Stella Li confirmed that they made a significant investment in AI. Interest had intensified because China’s humanoid robotics industry has expanded rapidly. BYD became more closely associated with the sector, with expectations that it could leverage its battery technology, manufacturing scale, and automotive expertise to become a major player. The excitement around this venture doesn’t surround the humanoids, but rather its manufacturing capabilities; its ability to produce humanoid robots at a scale that few companies can. Li, BYD’s executive vice-president, also informed South China Morning Post that they believed that China would become the first market to “see full commercialisation of humanoid robots.” Given that Chinese companies are dominating the space right now, that belief appears well on its way to becoming a reality. China sees robotics as a strategic industry, key for future economic growth. Manufacturing robots for manufacturers Factory automation is the first market. Humanoids could eventually perform tasks such as moving parts, assembling components, inspecting products, and handling materials. That would provide the company an additional advantage, able to test the robots before selling them to others. If they become practical and usable, they could assist not only factories but also warehouses, hospitals, hotels, retail, construction, and eventually homes. Some believe this could become a trillion-dollar industry. Will AI become as transformative as EV? EV says yes. BYD implied in their statement to South China Morning Post that in a relatively short amount of time, they are past concept. They are ready to demonstrate their capacity to produce humanoids quickly. “As BYD unveils its production model for humanoid robots, it will improve Chinese EV makers’ overall strength in this area,” said Ding Haifeng, a consultant at financial advisory firm Integrity in Shanghai, to South Morning China post. “The market will keep a close watch on other details like its production capacity and prices of the robots.” As Tesla’s China president Allan Wang Hao said, they could “eventually manufacture humanoid robots,” as they haven’t successfully released Optimus into the commercial sector. And, with Xpend expected to unleash 1,000 robots upon us, we’ve officially entered the race to introduce humanoids into the labor force. Xpend expects that to happen in 2027. The race against Tesla is on. Even Musk believes that Tesla and China will meet head-to-head. They will dominate this market – first intending to address gaps in manufacturing. Will AI take over that human job? Parts of it, at least. Recommended ArticlesGet the latest in engineering, tech, space & science - delivered daily to your inbox.Originally from LA, Maria Mocerino has been published in Business Insider, The Irish Examiner, The Rogue Mag, Chacruna Institute for Psychedelic Plant Medicines, and now Interesting Engineering.