AI Pushes China’s Factory Robots Into New Sectors as 100,000-sq-m Plants Lift Output
Updated
Updated · Financial Times · Jun 30
AI Pushes China’s Factory Robots Into New Sectors as 100,000-sq-m Plants Lift Output
3 articles · Updated · Financial Times · Jun 30
Summary
AI is widening robot use in China from autos and other high-end manufacturing into labor-intensive sectors such as garments and footwear, as smarter vision, programming and coordination tools make automation easier to deploy.
At Sany’s 100,000-sq-m Changsha factory, AI-enabled robotic arms now identify parts by shape, weight, color and material, replacing manual sorting and helping produce a concrete pump truck every 45 minutes.
China’s policymakers are backing smart factories to preserve manufacturing competitiveness as the workforce ages, while rising wages and workers’ reluctance to do dangerous, repetitive jobs add pressure to automate.
Robot makers from Fanuc and Universal Robots to ABB and Shanghai-based Step are rolling out AI-linked tools and models, while Chinese producers see simpler voice-based interfaces as key to selling into lower-skill factories.
Investors and manufacturers increasingly view factories as the fastest route to scale robotics and gather data for better physical AI models, including future humanoid deployments.
As China's AI factories surge, what is the human cost for the millions of workers being left behind?
With half the world's robots, is China building an insurmountable lead in the future of global manufacturing?
China’s Robotics Revolution: 90% of Global Humanoid Sales and the Policy Powering Its AI-Driven Future
Overview
China is quickly becoming a global leader in robotics, especially in the humanoid robot sector, with Chinese manufacturers making up nearly 90% of worldwide sales in 2025. This surge is driven by falling prices and strong government support, including policies that encourage deeper integration between AI companies and advanced manufacturing. Although current bipedal robots are mostly used for entertainment due to technical limits like short battery life, their growing affordability and market presence mark a turning point for the industry. These developments signal China’s ambition to shape the future of robotics through innovation and strategic policy.