China Issues National Standards for Humanoid Robots
China has released its first national standard system for humanoid robots and embodied AI, creating a framework for the entire industrial chain from components to ethics. The move comes as Chinese companies like Unitree showcase increasingly sophisticated hardware, with its humanoids recently performing Kung Fu at Beijing's Temple of Heaven, signaling a coordinated national push to lead the sector.
The new national standards framework was developed by a technical committee established in December 2025 by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT), involving over 120 research institutions and companies. The system is structured around six key areas: foundational technologies, brain-inspired computing, hardware components, integrated systems, applications, and safety and ethics. This move aims to guide the industry's shift from lab prototypes to commercial deployment. This standardization follows a 2023 MIIT guideline targeting the mass production of humanoid robots by 2025 and achieving world-advanced levels by 2027. The goals include establishing a complete innovation system, securing the supply of core components, and cultivating two to three globally influential humanoid robot companies by 2025. By 2027, the ministry envisions the sector becoming a significant new engine of economic growth. China's humanoid robotics sector has expanded rapidly, growing from 110 registered manufacturers in April 2025 to over 200 by November 2025. In 2025, considered the first year of mass production, over 140 domestic manufacturers launched more than 330 different models. The Chinese market for humanoid robots is projected to hit $10.3 billion by 2029, representing nearly a third of the global market. Leading Chinese firms are already deploying robots in industrial settings; Unitree Robotics has been testing humanoids in automotive factories for NIO and Geely since 2024. In 2025, Chinese companies dominated global humanoid robot sales, with AGIBOT ranking first worldwide with over $140 million in revenue, and the top three Chinese firms accounting for more than half of the $500 million global market. This surge is also reflected in global shipments, where Chinese makers like AGIBOT and Unitree each shipped over 5,000 units in 2025. In response to China's rapid advancements, U.S. lawmakers have introduced legislation to bolster domestic robotics. The "Humanoid ROBOT Act of 2025" aims to block federal agencies from acquiring humanoid robots from entities in China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea. Additionally, the National Commission on Robotics Act was proposed to evaluate U.S. competitiveness and provide policy recommendations to Congress. The U.S. executive branch is also reportedly considering a national robotics strategy, with the Commerce Department engaging with firms like Apptronik, Boston Dynamics, and Tesla. This follows a growing consensus that leadership in embodied AI is critical for industrial competitiveness and reshoring manufacturing. The push for a coordinated national strategy aims to align innovation, workforce development, and federal policy to counter state-subsidized competition.
