Growth Dragons Weekly: Robot Stocks Soar 266%, BYD & Xiaomi Hit Record Highs, Tencent, Meituan & Ping An Report Profit Surges
What happened in China this week:
AI Isn’t Hot Anymore — China Robot Stocks Gain As Much As 266% This Year
BYD Stock Hits Record High After Unveiling 5-Minute Charging
Xiaomi Stock Also Hits Record High on EV Breakthrough and Smartphone Strength
Tencent’s AI Integration Drives 11% Revenue Growth, 90% Profit Surge, and 32% Dividend Hike
Meituan Improves Profitability on 20% Revenue Growth, But Falls Short of Analysts’ Expectations
Ping An’s Profits Jump 48% as China’s Insurance Market Recovers
#1 AI Isn’t Hot Anymore — China Robot Stocks Gain As Much As 266% This Year
The hype around AI is starting to cool — and in China, investor attention is shifting to something more tangible: humanoid robots.
The humanoid robotics industry is evolving fast, with major strides in both China and the U.S. fueling fresh excitement. While the technology is still maturing and profitability remains elusive for many players, momentum is building — and markets are taking notice.
Shenzhen-based Dobot recently launched its Optimus-style humanoid robot, Dobot Atom, priced at 199,000 yuan (US$27,500). Mass production is expected by mid-2025. Atom boasts five-finger dexterity, a straight-knee gait that cuts energy use by 42%, and a powerful 1,500 TOPS of edge computing. It has already been tested across car factories, electronics plants, and even coffee shops — demonstrating its versatility.
China’s humanoid robotics market is heating up. UBTech’s Tien Kung Xingzhe is priced at 299,000 yuan, while EngineAI’s PM01 sells for just US$13,700. Meanwhile, on the global stage, Tesla’s Optimus remains a serious contender, with Elon Musk targeting a sub-US$20,000 price and an ambitious goal of producing 1 million units annually.
Investor appetite has been strong. Dobot's stock is up a staggering 266% year-to-date, while UBTech has climbed 73%. That’s far better than most AI stocks in 2024.
UBTech recently partnered with major furniture retailer Easyhome New Retail Group to sell 10,000 humanoid robots — including models for elderly care. As part of the deal, 500 robots will be deployed across Easyhome stores to enhance customer experiences. The collaboration also includes promoting home-use robots and developing “renovation robots” to automate home remodeling tasks.
This aligns with rising demand for service robots in China, where 1.5 million units were produced in early 2024, marking a 36% year-on-year jump. UBTech’s chairman sees household robots as a key growth area, while Easyhome’s CEO expects widespread adoption for housework, gardening, and healthcare.
The UBTech-Easyhome deal reflects a broader global trend: integrating humanoid robots into daily life. Both China and the U.S. are racing to mass-produce these machines, and the Chinese government is backing this push hard — promoting automation to offset its aging population and enhance productivity. Manufacturing will likely be the testing ground before these robots move into homes.
Other major players are also entering the space. Xpeng, better known as an electric vehicle maker, believes the robotics market will one day surpass the auto industry. Xpeng recently introduced Iron, an AI-powered humanoid robot, and plans to mass-produce both robots and flying cars by next year. The company is committing 50–100 billion yuan over the next 20 years into humanoid robotics R&D.
The humanoid robotics industry is now entering a new phase. Whether these robots will truly become part of everyday life remains to be seen — but with stock prices surging and production plans accelerating, the future is arriving faster than anyone expected.