Tesla's ambitious humanoid robots initiative, first unveiled during its AI Day in 2021, is approaching a crucial milestone. Elon Musk's Optimus robot, designed to handle mundane, repetitive, and hazardous tasks, is set to enter limited production in 2025, with thousands expected to debut at Tesla factories. This development marks a significant step forward in humanoid robotics, an industry now attracting major players worldwide.
In a parallel development, Huawei, China's AI computing powerhouse, has emerged as a formidable competitor. Its humanoid robot, "Kua Fu," is also scheduled for mass production in 2025. At the helm of Huawei's efforts is Dongguan Jimu, a wholly-owned subsidiary established in June 2023 to oversee productization, supplier integration, and ecosystem development for humanoid robots.
Despite its discreet profile—no website or product announcements—Jimu has received a massive CNY30.2 billion (US$6.73 billion) capital injection, raising its registered capital by 347% to CNY38.9 billion (US$8.7 billion).
Central to this strategy lies the sprawling Jimu Science Park in Dongguan, covering an area equivalent to 80 football fields. Acquired for CNY2.9 billion in July 2023, the industrial park is nearing completion, with some buildings entering the landscaping phase. This rapid development demonstrates Huawei's aggressive push to position itself as a leader in the robotics sector.
Key figures from Huawei helm Jimu, including Chairman Jianguo Li, a 31-year Huawei veteran and current president of the company's Manufacturing Department. His leadership, along with other seasoned executives, underscores the strategic importance of humanoid robotics to Huawei's broader business ambitions.
In June 2024, Huawei showcased "Kua Fu" at its Developer Conference, introducing a HarmonyOS-powered humanoid robot designed for domestic scenarios. Built-in collaboration with Leju Robotics, the robot demonstrated capabilities like object recognition, Q&A interactions, and physical tasks such as high-fiving and delivering water. Subsequently, in November 2024, Huawei launched its Global Embodied Intelligence Industry Innovation Center in Shenzhen, partnering with 16 companies to accelerate its robotics initiatives.
Industry analysts predict explosive growth for humanoid robots, fueled by breakthroughs in generative AI. China's humanoid robot market is projected to grow from CNY2.76 billion in 2024 to CNY300 billion by 2035.
As global tech giants Tesla and Nvidia push forward with AI robotics, Huawei's strategic investments in Dongguan Jimu highlight its ambitions to reshape the industry, balancing competition with collaboration in this fast-evolving market.