Unitree, the world’s largest seller of humanoid robots by volume, will debut on Shanghai’s STAR market on Wednesday. The company’s IPO has already attracted 8,000‑times oversubscription and raised 6.1 billion yuan (about $905 million), a record for the tech‑focused exchange.
New robot unveiled ahead of listing
On Monday, Unitree introduced a new humanoid model called “Superman,” capable of jumping two metres high and running at 12.66 metres per second. The robot follows a series of high‑profile public performances, including a dancing routine at China’s Lunar New Year gala.
Strategic importance to China’s tech agenda
Beijing views humanoid robots as a strategic priority, citing a 2023 policy that calls them “the new high ground of technological competition.” The government has pledged billions to accelerate development of embodied AI and advanced robotics, aiming to keep pace with U.S. competitors in artificial intelligence and automation.
Financial snapshot
Unitree, founded in Hangzhou in 2016, reported revenue of nearly 1.7 billion yuan ($252 million) in 2025, a ten‑fold increase from two years earlier. The firm posted a net profit of 278 million yuan ($41 million) and delivered more than 5,500 humanoid units worldwide last year, making it the top global seller.
Backers include Chinese giants Meituan, Tencent, Alibaba and AI startup DeepSeek. About 42 % of the company’s revenue comes from its quadruped “robot‑dog” line, while research and educational institutions account for the majority of humanoid sales.
Challenges and outlook
Analysts note that Unitree’s strength lies in hardware and motion control, but the firm must expand investment in embodied AI models—the software “brain” of its robots—to compete long‑term. A partnership with U.S. chipmaker Nvidia was announced in June to address this gap.
U.S. restrictions could affect future growth. In June, Unitree was added to a U.S. blacklist of Chinese companies linked to the military, barring Pentagon contracts. Later, Washington prohibited new imports of foreign humanoid and quadruped robots, citing national‑security concerns. While existing models remain approved for sale, the measures may limit overseas expansion, which currently accounts for over 40 % of Unitree’s revenue.
IPO proceeds
The prospectus states that IPO proceeds will fund research and development of embodied AI, new robot hardware, and expansion of manufacturing facilities.
Original reporting: El Paso News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
