China's army of robot makers jostle for attention in overcrowded market
Chinese robotics developers showcased their products at an exhibition in Guangzhou this week, as the market began to look like the country's electric vehicle industry a few years ago when hundreds of players battled for survival.
Many of the firms at the Guangzhou International Intelligent Robot Exhibition, a three-day event with 800 exhibitors, have plans to achieve large-scale production this year, with many feeling upbeat after the US slashed tariffs as part of an agreement between Beijing and Washington.
Robotic arm maker Li-Gong Industrial – based in Guangzhou, capital of southern Guangdong province – plans to produce 1,000 units of its first bipedal Lidian D1 humanoid, company account manager Marin Ma said at the exhibition. Launched in August 2024, the 170cm tall Lidian D1 is a general purpose machine that can be used for research, manufacturing and services.
Robotic arms carry out packaging operations at the Global Intelligent Manufacturing Industrial Park in Hohhot, north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, April 17, 2025. Photo: Xinhua
Ma said the product, now mainly used in manufacturing plants for applications such as car assembly, would be able to fulfil service needs in three years.
Shenzhen DX Intech Technology, which develops robotic receptionists and tour guides, said it would reach a monthly production capacity of up to 200 units this year. The robots, which cannot walk, are able to talk and interact with humans, and can be made with a customised appearance. They have been adopted in Beijing's Forbidden City and Summer Palace, as well as in the airports of Shenzhen and Hangzhou, said Zhu Wen, DX Intech's channel director.
The start-up is preparing to expand overseas, noting that distributors in the US are now more willing to negotiate on purchases given the lowered tariffs, Zhu said.
Both firms showcased their products at the Guangzhou exhibition that kicked off on Wednesday. The event attracted more than 500 firms that provide the technology to power robots, smart manufacturing and smart warehousing.
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