Schaeffler Launches Humanoid Venture in China
German automotive supplier Schaeffler has launched a new Embodied AI robot company in China, aiming to capture 10% of the global humanoid market by 2030. The company is partnering with Leju Robotics, initially deploying robots for factory inspections with plans to scale to thousands of units across 100 plants.
The new venture, Schaeffler Embodied Intelligent Robotics (Taicang) Co., Ltd., is central to Schaeffler's dual strategy: to be both a key supplier of high-performance robotic components and a large-scale user of humanoids in its own factories. The Taicang facility will not only manufacture precision hardware like planetary gear actuators but also house a computing hub for AI model training and digital twin simulations. This move places Schaeffler at the heart of the world's most dynamic humanoid market. In 2025, Chinese manufacturers accounted for the vast majority of global humanoid robot shipments, with companies like AgiBot and Unitree Robotics leading in volume. Leju Robotics, Schaeffler's partner, ranked fourth in China with approximately 500 units shipped in the same year. The partnership gives Schaeffler access to Leju's "Kuafu" line of humanoid robots. These robots are powered by Huawei's PanGu large AI model and run on the open-source HarmonyOS, featuring capabilities like omnidirectional walking at 4.6 km/h and jumping. This integration of advanced AI models is critical for tasks requiring adaptability and learning in complex industrial environments. This collaboration is part of a broader trend of automotive and industrial giants pushing into "Physical AI." Schaeffler is also partnering with German cognitive robotics firm Neura Robotics and UK-based Humanoid to deploy thousands of robots in its facilities by 2035, creating a real-world data collection and training ground to accelerate development. Neura is developing the "Neuraverse," a cognitive ecosystem for robots, and recently partnered with Qualcomm to create standardized "Brain + Nervous System" architectures for the industry.
