The Guangzhou International Intelligent Robot Exhibition kicked off on May 21, featuring 800 exhibitors.

Many are targeting large-scale production this year, driven by a recent reduction in US tariffs following an agreement between Beijing and Washington.

The three-day event showcases the latest in robotics, smart manufacturing, and warehousing technologies.

Guangzhou-based Li-Gong Industrial unveiled its bipedal humanoid robot, the Lidian D1, launched in August 2024. Standing at 170 centimeters, the robot is designed for research, manufacturing, and service use.

The company plans to produce 1,000 units this year and expand its service capabilities within three years.

Meanwhile, DX Intech Technology from Shenzhen aims for a monthly production of 200 robotic receptionists and tour guides by 2025.

Their robots are already in use at landmarks like the Forbidden City and airports in Shenzhen and Hangzhou. The firm is preparing for overseas expansion as US distributors show growing interest.

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🔗 Source: South China Morning Post

🧠 Food for thought

1️⃣ China’s robotics sector follows EV market’s pattern of rapid expansion and consolidation

China’s robotics market is evolving rapidly, reflecting the country’s dramatic rise in global manufacturing automation.

China has transformed from a modest player to becoming the world’s largest industrial robot market, installing nearly 290,000 robots in 2022 alone, representing 52% of global installations 1.

This pattern mirrors China’s electric vehicle industry evolution, where government support through initiatives like “Made in China 2025” created conditions for hundreds of competitors to emerge before market forces drove consolidation 2, 1.

Robot density in Chinese manufacturing has surpassed the United States for the first time (322 robots per 10,000 employees versus 274 in the US), signaling China’s commitment to automation despite having lower labor costs 3, 4.

The explosion of robotics companies is creating intense competition where only the most technically advanced and financially stable firms will likely survive—similar to how hundreds of EV startups eventually consolidated to a few dozen significant players.

2️⃣ Recent US-China tariff reductions could reshape global robotics supply chains

The tariff reduction agreement between the US and China represents a significant shift for robotics manufacturers on both sides, with far-reaching implications for global supply chains.

The recent deal slashing US tariffs on Chinese imports from 145% to 30% (with China reducing tariffs on US goods to 10%) has immediately improved the business outlook for Chinese robotics firms looking to export 5, 6.

Previous tariffs implemented in 2018-2019 specifically targeted robotics and advanced manufacturing technologies as part of broader concerns about technology transfer and intellectual property protection 7, 8.

These trade barriers had been forcing companies to reconfigure their supply chains and manufacturing locations, with some Chinese firms establishing production in countries not subject to US tariffs.

The tariff reductions come at a critical time for the growing humanoid robot market, which is projected to reach nearly $4 billion by 2025. This could allow Chinese manufacturers to capture greater global market share through more competitive pricing 9.

3️⃣ Contrasting innovation models drive US-China robotics competition

The global robotics race reveals fundamentally different approaches to technology development between China and the United States, with significant implications for which country might ultimately prevail.

While the US leads in AI capabilities and high-end robotics applications, China dominates manufacturing supply chains and emphasizes cost-effective mass production—creating complementary but competing innovation models 9, 10.

China’s government-directed approach provides substantial subsidies and policy support for automation, with provinces investing heavily in robotics as part of national industrial strategy, contrasting with the US market-driven approach 4, 10.

The International Federation of Robotics notes that despite China’s numerical advantage in robot installations, countries like South Korea maintain higher robot density (1,012 robots per 10,000 workers), suggesting different priorities in how automation is deployed 3, 11.

This creates a systemic competition where China’s strengths in rapid scaling and manufacturing efficiency compete against US advantages in fundamental research and software development—potentially leading to different types of robotics innovations emerging from each country.

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