Ubtech Targets 100x Scale-Up for Humanoid Robot Production in 2025

Ubtech Targets 100x Scale-Up for Humanoid Robot Production in 2025

China's Ubtech Robotics, one of the few publicly traded companies focused significantly on humanoid robots, has announced ambitious plans to dramatically increase its production capacity this year. Following its latest annual earnings report, the Shenzhen-based firm stated its goal is to manufacture approximately 1,000 humanoid robots in 2025, a hundredfold increase from the mere 10 units produced last year.

Ambitious Production Goals

During the company's earnings briefing on March 30th, founder and Chairman Zhou Jian detailed the plan: roughly 500 units are intended for industrial applications, likely featuring its Walker S model, with another 500 targeted for other uses. This figure excludes robots designed for emotional support, which remain in development.

This planned output marks a significant step-up. Looking further ahead, Zhou expressed a target of producing between 5,000 and 10,000 units in 2026. "If we can deliver a few hundred or even 1,000 units this year, then mass production and delivery scales for next year will be even larger,” he stated, according to financial news outlet Yicai.

Financials and Market Context

Ubtech reported annual revenue of CNY 1.3 billion (approx. USD 180 million) for 2024, a 24% increase year-over-year. However, the company remains unprofitable, posting a net loss of CNY 1.2 billion (approx. USD 166 million), though this represented an 8% narrowing compared to the previous year.

Crucially, humanoid robots are not yet a significant revenue stream. Chief Financial Officer Zhang Ju noted that the 10 units produced in 2023 generated only around CNY 35 million (USD 4.8 million). Zhou revealed that the bill of materials (BOM) cost for a single industrial humanoid robot currently stands at about CNY 500,000 (USD 68,800), highlighting the economic challenges still facing the sector.

Focus on Industrial Deployment

The company is prioritizing the integration of its robots into real-world settings, particularly manufacturing. Zhou noted that after initial development and training phases, often within automotive factories, the robots are expected to be deployed in more complex industrial environments. Ubtech is reportedly in talks with Dongfeng Liuzhou Automobile to potentially supply 20 humanoid robots this year.

Investor Relations head Chen Jianquan emphasized that achieving profitability is secondary to successfully integrating the robots into practical applications at this stage. "Integrating humanoid robots into real-world applications is the greater goal," Chen told Yicai.

Outlook

Ubtech's aggressive production target signals growing confidence in the near-term viability of humanoid robots, particularly in controlled industrial spaces. However, the company faces significant hurdles in scaling production efficiently, reducing costs, and demonstrating consistent value to potential customers. Its progress will be closely watched within the rapidly evolving landscape of humanoid robotics, which includes competitors like Tesla, Figure AI, and Apptronik.

Source: Yicai Global