Building on 2025's dominance with over 90% global market share, Chinese humanoid robots drew major attention at CES and China's Lunar New Year Gala in early 2026. Tesla's Optimus remains in limited production amid delays, with mass deployment eyed for 2027 or later. Analyst Lian Jye Su highlights China's manufacturing scale while noting U.S. software strengths in the intensifying competition.
Since early 2026, China's humanoid robots have captured global headlines, featuring prominently at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas and the Lunar New Year Spring Gala. This follows their commanding performance in 2025, where firms like Unitree and Agibot led sales amid Beijing's policy support.
Omdia analyst Lian Jye Su, in a February 25, 2026, interview with Rest of World, attributed China's edge to decades of high-end manufacturing prowess, bolstered by initiatives like Made in China 2025 and the 14th Five-Year Plan. These have fueled not just robotics but also EVs and solar. Investments in AI—from foundation models to chipsets—and demand from state-owned enterprises further accelerate progress.
Tesla, recognizing Chinese firms as its toughest rivals, has Optimus in limited production at its Fremont factory. The robots train for 12-hour shifts via an 'Optimus Academy' using simulations and real-world tasks. Su emphasized U.S. advantages in hardware and software innovation, with leadership hinging on production scale, technical benchmarks, investments, and partnerships.
Su dismissed bubble fears, comparing the sector to early AI where data collection precedes profits. Elon Musk envisions Optimus tackling labor shortages and even surgeries by 2030, potentially unlocking massive revenue as Tesla scales production.
