According to official CES data, Chinese companies account for 21 of the 38 exhibitors in the humanoid robotics category this year, making up more than half of all participants. The lineup includes established players such as Unitree Robotics as well as first-time exhibitors like AgiBot and Noetix Robotics, all seeking to expand their footprint in overseas markets.
The scale of participation reflects China's rapid ascent in a field widely seen as the next frontier of advanced manufacturing and artificial intelligence. Analysts say the sheer number of Chinese exhibitors points to a coordinated national push to dominate the humanoid robotics market before it fully matures.
China has filed 7,705 humanoid-related patents over the past five years, far exceeding the 1,561 recorded in the United States over the same period, according to a December report by Morgan Stanley. The lead extends beyond intellectual property into manufacturing capacity, where Chinese firms are moving aggressively toward mass production.
AgiBot recently rolled out its 5,000th humanoid robot, while UBTech Robotics plans to scale output to 5,000 units in 2026 and 10,000 units in 2027. By comparison, Tesla is believed to have produced only several hundred units of its Optimus humanoid so far.
Unitree Robotics, a Hangzhou-based company often described as one of China's "Six Little Dragons" of emerging technology, opened what it calls the world's first offline humanoid robot retail store on Dec. 31 at a JD Mall in Beijing. Customers can purchase its G1 humanoid robot for about 85,000 yuan ($12,149), or its Go2 quadruped robot starting at around 10,000 yuan, after interacting with the machines in person. Orders can be fulfilled through JD's logistics network for delivery or in-store pickup.
The retail rollout highlights a broader shift in how robots are being positioned in China — not merely as industrial equipment, but as consumer products akin to smartphones or home appliances.
Behind this push lies a broader state strategy. Beijing has made "embodied intelligence" a core pillar of its upcoming 15th five-year plan, viewing robotics as a way to offset labor shortages caused by rapid population aging and falling birth rates. Pilot programs are already under way to deploy robots in households, nursing facilities and community centers.
Globally, the humanoid robotics race is being led primarily by companies in China and the United States. Key players include Tesla, Figure AI, Boston Dynamics, Agility Robotics and Unitree Robotics. Boston Dynamics, acquired by Hyundai Motor Group in 2021 for $880 million, is technically a South Korean-owned company, though its research and engineering operations remain based in Massachusetts.
South Korea will also showcase its ambitions at CES 2026. Hyundai Motor Group is set to debut the next-generation Atlas humanoid robot on stage, marking its transition from laboratory development to commercial demonstration. The automaker plans to pilot Atlas at its Metaplant America factory in Georgia.
The United States will field its own group of humanoid robotics exhibitors at CES, though analysts note that many American firms remain focused on research, software development and pilot programs rather than mass manufacturing. China's advantage lies in its deep manufacturing ecosystem and cost competitiveness. Morgan Stanley estimates that building a supply chain for Tesla's Optimus Gen 2 without Chinese participation would cost nearly three times as much.
The competitive stakes extend beyond the exhibition floor. Nvidia Chief Executive Jensen Huang is scheduled to deliver a keynote on Jan. 5 highlighting "physical AI" and robotics, including more than 20 use cases involving robot training and digital twin technologies. Nvidia projects that embodied AI could eventually transform 10 million factories and 200,000 warehouses worldwide.
In Washington, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick has reportedly been meeting with robotics executives as part of discussions on a national strategy, with an executive order on robotics said to be under consideration.
Running through Jan. 9, CES 2026 is expected to draw about 140,000 visitors from 160 countries. More than a technology showcase, the event is shaping up as a global barometer for which nations are best positioned to turn humanoid robots from experimental machines into everyday tools — and for now, China appears determined to lead that transition.
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