On December 19, $UBTECH ROBOTICS (HK09880) surged 10.29%, while $XPeng (HK9868) rose 7.65%. Other robotics-related stocks, including $DOBOT (HK02432) and $SANHUA (HK02050), also posted gains. This rally reflects the industry's shift from conceptual exploration to mass production, driven by multiple positive catalysts.
Recently, leading humanoid robotics firm UBTECH ROBOTICS partnered with domestic service platform Daodaojia to develop an innovative "robot-human" home service model. The collaboration includes drafting the industry's first operational guidelines for human-robot collaboration in household services, marking a transition from lab prototypes to real-world applications.
Order momentum further validates the trend. UBTECH secured a 159 million yuan ($22.3 million) contract for a humanoid robot data collection center in Zigong. By November, its Walker series had accumulated over 800 million yuan in orders. Meanwhile, robotics unicorn Zhiyuan announced production of 5,000 general-purpose embodied robots in early December, demonstrating initial scaling capabilities.
Notably, humanoid robots are becoming practical tools in manufacturing. The world's first humanoid-robot-powered battery pack production line recently commenced operations at CATL's Zhongzhou base. The "Xiaomo" robot, developed by CATL-affiliated Qianxun Robotics and equipped with CATL batteries, now performs complex tasks like battery connector insertion with precision. The system reportedly triples daily output while maintaining exceptional consistency.
Analysts suggest the robotics industry stands on the brink of explosive growth, with 2026 poised to become the "iPhone moment" for humanoid robots—mirroring smartphones' transformative impact in 2007. Bohai Securities notes clear mass-production roadmaps targeting 2026, recommending continued focus on supply chain opportunities. TrendForce projects global humanoid robot shipments will exceed 50,000 units in 2026, a 700% year-on-year increase.
Looking further ahead, Morgan Stanley forecasts a $5 trillion humanoid robot market by 2050, with 1 billion units deployed globally—approximately one robot per ten people. The report predicts slower progress before 2035 but significant acceleration in the late 2030s.
Today's sector rebound reflects both market rotation and fundamental progress, as companies transition from narrative-driven valuations to tangible order execution and business model validation ahead of 2026's anticipated inflection point.
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