BYD and Nio Embrace Humanoid Robots to Tackle China's Labor Shortage

Chinese electric vehicle makers BYD and Nio are leading the charge in deploying humanoid robots on factory floors, reports Nikkei Asia, as the nation grapples with a shrinking workforce. BYD has introduced the Walker S1 robot from UBTech Robotics to its Hunan province factory, while Nio has deployed the same robots at its Anhui facility.

BYD's Walker S1 robots, standing at 172 centimeters tall and weighing 76 kilograms, are equipped with advanced sensors and can perform tasks such as picking up boxes and loading them onto automated vehicles. UBTech's Chief Brand Officer, Michael Tam, highlights the robots' ability to conduct quality control more efficiently than humans.

At Nio's Anhui factory, the robots are being used to inspect vehicles, checking door locks with cameras and manually testing seat belts. Other applications include attaching Nio emblems to hoods and conducting checks on on-board voice-operated AI systems.

Tam suggests that robots can currently handle about 70% of typical factory tasks, with the remaining 30% requiring human intervention. He predicts that robots will eventually take over an additional 20% of these tasks, leaving only 10% for human operators and management.

UBTech has already shipped several dozen humanoid robots to factories and has received orders for approximately 500 more units. This trend reflects a broader shift towards humanoid robots in Chinese manufacturing, driven by the country's declining birth rate and aging population. The National Bureau of Statistics reported that the working-age population in China has shrunk by an average of 5-6 million people annually from 2013 to 2022, with a further decline of around 10 million in 2023.

The Chinese government is actively encouraging the development and adoption of humanoid robots. More than 80 companies are currently working on humanoid robot technology, with each unit typically costing several hundred thousand yuan. The market for these robots is projected to grow significantly in the coming years.

However, the widespread adoption of humanoid robots in complex manufacturing tasks remains a challenge. While the robots are capable of performing relatively simple tasks, they currently lack the dexterity and AI sophistication required for intricate assembly and welding tasks. The ongoing development of more advanced AI technology is crucial for expanding the robots' capabilities.