Tesla CEO Elon Musk Faces Challenges Amid Stock Drop and EV Sales Decline
China’s Competitive Edge
In February, Morgan Stanley estimated that the cost of building humanoid robots ranges from $10,000 to $300,000 per unit, depending on configurations and applications. Chinese companies, however, are already producing lower-cost alternatives thanks to advanced manufacturing capabilities and economies of scale.
Hangzhou-based Unitree Robotics released its G1 humanoid robot in May for $16,000. In contrast, Morgan Stanley estimates that Tesla’s Optimus Gen2 could cost around $20,000—but only if Tesla scales up production and sources cost-effective components from China.
Unitree made headlines in January when 16 of its H1 humanoid robots performed alongside human dancers during the Lunar New Year celebrations on national television.
Rapid Market Growth and Adoption in China
Humanoid robots are swiftly moving from concept to reality in China. On February 12, Unitree Robotics launched its H1 and G1 humanoid robots for sale on JD.com, one of China’s largest e-commerce platforms. Both models sold out almost immediately.
