A $20,000 ‘home companion’ robot from China to debut this year

China’s UBTech Robotics Corporation is planning to unveil a $20,000 humanoid robot that can serve as a household companion this year, seeking to expand beyond factories. The company sees “home companion” robots as a bright spot in China partly because of the growing need for elderly care, Chief Brand Officer Michael Tam told Bloomberg News in an interview yesterday. Still, he didn’t give a timing for when the product goes on sale and said an all-purpose robot that can handle many types of household chores and look after human beings is years away as the technology isn’t ready. Battle against Tesla’s Optimus robot Hong Kong-listed UBTech, which has thus far focused on industrial customers for its humanoid robots, is eyeing a consumer market also targeted by Tesla and other companies. Chief Executive Officer Elon Musk said last year Tesla’s Optimus robot will handle many household tasks and could eventually be available to consumers for $20,000 to $30,000 each, with production starting in 2026. Carmaker BYD and electronics giant Foxconn Technology Group are among users of UBTech’s industrial offerings, which come at $100,000 apiece on average, and it also has a robot used in education, according to Tam. White-hot robot competition Tam’s company has been under pressure from cut-throat competition as a coterie of Chinese firms are trying to take humanoid robots mainstream, especially after Chinese President Xi Jinping indicated this year that robotics and emerging technologies are Beijing’s top priorities. The Shenzhen-based company lost more than 1.1 billion RMB ($153 million) last year and its stock shed about 45% of its value over the past 12 months in Hong Kong. But Tam said intense rivalry helps Chinese firms become more efficient. “White-hot competition creates a lot of pressure on a single company, but for the whole industry, it does help preserve good companies and eliminate bad ones,” Tam said. UBTech is planning to ship about 1,000 robots this year, according to Tam. By Luz Ding

A $20,000 ‘home companion’ robot from China to debut this year

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Published May 24, 2025

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A $20,000 ‘home companion’ robot from China to debut this year