Zhejiang robots sweeping the nation

Robots manufactured in Zhejiang province are being deployed across China, with applications expanding into education, entertainment and commercial marketing, demonstrating strong potential in the consumer robot market.

At CES 2025 in Las Vegas on Jan 7, Zhejiang-based Unitree Robotics showcased its latest products, including the consumer-grade quadruped robot Go2 and its wheeled version Go2-W, the industrial-grade wheeled robot B2-W and general-purpose humanoid robots H1 and G1.

During the 2025 Spring Festival Gala, 16 Unitree H1 humanoid robots performed on stage, drawing nationwide attention. After the holiday, the popularity of humanoid robots soared, with businesses quickly moving to capitalize by offering rental services.

On a secondhand trading platform in China, rental listings for Unitree's G1 robot have surged, with businesses in Beijing, Shanghai, Zhejiang and the provinces of Shandong and Guangdong among the regions offering services. The listings indicate the robots can be used for commercial events, exhibitions, performances and educational outreach.

Rental prices range from 5,000 to 15,000 yuan ($690 to $1,380) per day, with limited availability. The fee typically includes local transportation to the venue and full-day operator assistance, with no deposit required. However, some businesses charge a high deposit without an accompanying operator.

According to the Shanghai Observer, Zhu Zhenglong, a robot rental business owner, purchased a Unitree G1 robot for 99,000 yuan. When the robot arrived more than a month later, it coincided with the post-Spring Festival Gala boom.

"Last year, the rent for G1 was between 6,000 to 8,000 yuan, but this year, demand has skyrocketed, and now the price is over 10,000 yuan per day," Zhu said. "On March 1 and 2, it was in Wuhan, on the 3rd and 4th, it was in Wuxi, and on the 5th, it headed for Beijing."

Zhu's company rented out one Unitree G1 humanoid robot throughout March.

While many businesses market their models as "Spring Festival Gala robots", the units featured on the show were actually Unitree's H1 robots, which are known for their mobility and ability to navigate complex environments. In the rental market, the more common models are the G1 humanoid robots, which are priced lower and offer flexible entertainment functions.

Launched last year, the G1 humanoid robot stands approximately 127 centimeters tall and weighs around 35 kilograms. It features between 23 and 43 joint motors, enabling a range of movements such as squatting, standing, turning and waving.

On Feb 12, Unitree's H1 and G1 humanoid robots officially launched on JD.com. The G1 model, priced at 99,000 yuan, sold out instantly. Given the surge in market enthusiasm, rental businesses charging thousands of yuan per day can recoup their investment in as little as 10 days to two weeks.

With continuous technological advancements and growing demand, Zhejiang's robot industry is seeing new opportunities. Zhang Shuming, deputy director of the Zhejiang Provincial Development and Reform Commission, said at a news conference on boosting consumption that the commission will enhance planning and implementation of major projects in emerging fields such as smart wearables, autonomous driving, brain-machine interfaces and robotics.

The goal, he said, is to stimulate high-growth consumption sectors, drive industrial upgrades and create a positive cycle between consumption and investment.

Unitree founder Wang Xingxing told China Daily the company is focused on commercialization.

"Our humanoid robot customers are diverse, including individuals, research and education institutions, AI companies, tech firms and even some factories. Our strategy is to provide robots for all purposes, whether for personal entertainment, factory applications or research," Wang said.

As a global leader in quadruped robotics, Unitree accounts for 60 to 70 percent of global quadruped robot shipments and leads in large humanoid robot shipments, with business operations in more than 50 percent of countries and regions worldwide.

At a State Council Information Office news conference on March 17, Li Chunlin, deputy head of the National Development and Reform Commission, said innovation-driven enterprises are introducing new technologies and products, including AI-powered large models and humanoid robots, which are resonating with consumers and gaining market recognition.

He added that consumption upgrades will further drive industrial transformation, creating a virtuous cycle in the market.