Tesla aims to manufacture Optimus on a large scale; Elon Musk has stated that the humanoid could become one of the company's most important products, and Tesla possesses many of the same industrial advantages as XPENG—including factories for automobiles, batteries, electronics, and AI, as well as a global supply chain. Figure is also making strides in US manufacturing, already producing Figure 03 units at its BotQuitz facility; thus, North American companies are not standing still. However, XPENG has just placed its current generation of humanoids on a dedicated, highly automated production line, while Tesla works to expand the industrial infrastructure for the next generation of Optimus.

This dynamic plays out against a much broader backdrop: China is already home to a vast network of companies producing motors, gear reducers, sensors, batteries, actuators, and other components essential for humanoids. This allows Chinese manufacturers to develop robots using a domestic supply chain that already supports sectors such as electric vehicles, electronics, and industrial automation.

XPENG is also rapidly increasing the resources dedicated to this race; its robotics division recently raised over $900 million in its first funding round, led by IDG Capital with participation from investors such as Alibaba and Tencent. The unit was valued at over $6.3 billion. These funds are being used to develop hardware and software, train AI models, and expand the infrastructure needed to produce humanoids. Does this mean China has won the robot race? Well, it is too early to say for certain, but they are very close to achieving it.

Chinese manufacturers now account for over 97% of humanoid robots shipped worldwide—a fact widely reported by global sources, not just those within China. Estimates from the research firm Smart Analytics Global covering the first six months of 2026 indicate that approximately 19,100 humanoids were shipped globally during that period, compared to around 5,100 in the first half of 2025—a 272% increase in just one year.

Furthermore, the top five companies in the rankings are all Chinese. Edgebots took the lead with approximately 8,400 units and a 44% share of global shipments; close behind is Unitree with nearly 5,900 robots and 31% of the market. Together, these two companies accounted for roughly three-quarters of all humanoids shipped worldwide. However, the Chinese industry also features a second tier of manufacturers ramping up production. Gobots ranks third with approximately 900 units, UBtech holds fourth place with nearly 700, and Leju rounds out the top five with approximately 600 humanoid shipments.

Another study conducted by Counterpoint Research employs a different methodology and estimates that over 22,000 humanoids were shipped globally during the same period. While the specific figures differ, the ranking results remain the same: Edgebots, Unitree, Gobots, UBtech, and Leju occupy the top five spots. Production, however, is only part of the picture.