AgiBot Overtakes Unitree as World’s Top Humanoid Robot Vendor
China’s AgiBot has overtaken domestic rival Unitree Robotics to become the world’s largest humanoid robot vendor by shipments in the first half of 2026, as competition intensifies across the...
China’s AgiBot has overtaken domestic rival Unitree Robotics to become the world’s largest humanoid robot vendor by shipments in the first half of 2026, as competition intensifies across the country’s rapidly expanding physical AI industry.
Quick Skim
Shanghai-based AgiBot captured 44% of the global humanoid robot market, shipping approximately 8,400 units between January and June, according to research firm Smart Analytics Global.
The company’s shipments increased 562% year on year, supported by a broader portfolio covering full-size bipedal robots, compact humanoid units and wheeled robots.
AgiBot Expands Across Multiple Robot Platforms
AgiBot’s product strategy includes its full-size A-series, compact X-series and wheeled G-series robots.
The wider product range has allowed the company to target different applications and contributed to its rapid shipment growth during the first six months of the year.
The increase also reflects growing commercial activity across China’s humanoid robotics sector as manufacturers move towards larger-scale production and deployment.
Unitree Holds 31% of Global Market
Hangzhou-based Unitree Robotics ranked second, shipping around 5,900 humanoid robots during the first half of 2026 and securing a 31% global market share.
Unlike AgiBot’s multi-product strategy, Unitree’s humanoid robot shipments remain largely concentrated around its flagship G1 model.
Education, research and performance applications continue to represent a significant share of Unitree’s deployments.
Together, AgiBot and Unitree accounted for around 75% of global humanoid robot shipments during the period, highlighting the increasingly significant position of Chinese manufacturers in the emerging robotics market.
Robotics Companies Move Towards Public Markets
The shipment competition comes as both companies move towards capital markets amid increasing investor interest in physical AI and humanoid robotics.
Unitree is preparing to list on Shanghai’s Star Market, with its initial public offering priced at 150.8 yuan per share. The company expects to raise approximately 6.1 billion yuan (US$904 million) through the offering.
The listing is being closely watched as an indicator of investor appetite for China’s growing humanoid robotics industry.
China Strengthens Position in Humanoid Robotics
The rapid growth of AgiBot and Unitree reflects China’s expanding capabilities across robotics manufacturing, AI and physical automation.
AgiBot had already ranked first globally in humanoid robot shipments in 2025, when it shipped 5,168 units and captured nearly 38% of the market. Unitree followed with 4,200 units.
With AgiBot shipping around 8,400 robots in just the first six months of 2026, production volumes are increasing quickly as manufacturers move from prototype development towards larger-scale commercial deployment.
The competition between AgiBot and Unitree is also highlighting how product range, manufacturing scale and commercial applications are becoming increasingly important as the humanoid robotics sector develops.
