Chinese Humanoid Robot Maker Unitree Soars in Shanghai Stock Market Debut

Unitree Robotics, the world's largest manufacturer of humanoid robots, made a historic debut on the Shanghai Star Market on Wednesday. The company's shares opened at 1,100 yuan, a 629 percent increase over the initial public offering price of 150.8 yuan. By the midday break, the stock had settled at 883.87 yuan, representing a nearly sixfold increase in value. The IPO raised approximately 904 million dollars, making Unitree the first humanoid robot company to list on mainland China's stock market. The demand for shares was immense, with the booking phase being more than 8,000 times oversubscribed.

Founded in 2016 and based in Hangzhou, Unitree produces humanoid and quadruped robots, as well as robotic arms and sensors. The company has gained international visibility through viral videos of its robots performing martial arts and acrobatics, including appearances on the state television Spring Festival Gala. This week, the company introduced a new model called Superman, which can run at 12.66 meters per second and jump two meters high. Despite the hype, some analysts and the company itself have cautioned that large scale commercialization may take longer than expected due to limitations in the precision and durability of robotic hands.

The listing has created significant wealth for early investors and the company's 36 year old founder, Wang Xingxing. Major backers include Chinese tech giants Tencent, Alibaba, and DeepSeek, as well as state owned enterprises such as China Telecom and China Southern Power Grid. The company's valuation reached peaks that placed it among the top global rivals, trailing only US firms 1X Technologies and Figure AI. This growth occurs amidst a broader strategic push by Beijing to lead the global robotics and artificial intelligence market, viewing the sector as a solution to an aging population and a key priority for industrial development.

While the stock surged, it did so against a backdrop of a declining overall market, with the Star Market Composite Index falling 6.1 percent by midday. The debut coincides with the World Robot Conference in Beijing, where Unitree's machines are competing in events such as football and library book sorting.