BYD Confirms First Humanoid Robot Reveal for August Launch
BYD has confirmed that it will unveil its first humanoid robot in August, marking the electric vehicle giant’s official entry into the rapidly growing robotics industry.
The company announced that it will showcase the robot at its “Di Space” network of offline science education and experience centers. Earlier, a teaser image shared on July 25 by the Zhengzhou Di Space location hinted at an early August launch, and the latest announcement confirms that timeline.
BYD Expands From Electric Vehicles to Robotics
Since late 2024, BYD has built a dedicated team under its 15th Business Division to develop embodied artificial intelligence products, including humanoid robots. Moreover, the company views robotics as a natural extension of its expertise in automotive engineering, software, and hardware.
Executive Vice President Stella Li said last month she hopes every BYD store will eventually have two or three robots to introduce vehicles to customers, expecting robot sales advisors to be ready for real-world use within one to two years.
Meanwhile, BYD has already tested humanoid robots inside its manufacturing facilities. UBTech’s Walker S1 industrial humanoid robot began training for factory tasks in Changsha during 2024. Later, additional Walker S2 units were delivered to BYD and other manufacturers for production-line operations.
Furthermore, BYD plans to create an open robotics platform that supports both its own humanoid robots and products developed with industry partners.
Competition Intensifies in Humanoid Robotics
BYD’s upcoming launch places it among several automakers investing heavily in humanoid robotics. Tesla continues developing its Optimus robot for commercial applications. Likewise, Xpeng aims to begin mass production of its Iron humanoid robot by the end of 2026. Hyundai has also indicated plans to sell its Atlas humanoid robot to external customers.
Rather than highlighting technical specifications, BYD’s teaser campaign focuses on natural human interaction. “It won’t show up with a pile of specs and jargon,” the text read. “Maybe when you walk closer, it moves slightly.”
As competition accelerates, BYD’s first humanoid robot could strengthen its position beyond electric vehicles. Consequently, the August unveiling may signal a broader strategy to combine AI, robotics, and automotive technologies into future customer and industrial applications.
