$650,000 is the price of Unitree’s new GD01, a giant mecha the Hangzhou robotics company says is a real product now on sale.
Video of the GD01 shows it walking, crawling, transforming and smashing through cinder blocks, with founder Xingxing Wang briefly climbing into its open-air cockpit before the robot appears to operate without a pilot.
The launch marks Unitree’s first move into giant mechas after building its reputation on low-cost quadruped and humanoid robots, including the G1 model priced around $15,000.
Unitree’s rise has been driven by China’s hardware supply chain and easy-to-configure platforms for AI research, though its robots still rely on remote control or limited autonomy rather than advanced real-world dexterity.
Expected to go public this year, Unitree appears to be using the GD01 as both a new product and a high-profile showcase for its growing status in China’s robotics sector.
Is Unitree's half-million-dollar mecha a viable product or an elaborate PR stunt for its massive IPO?
As Unitree dominates robotics using US chips, how will Washington navigate the growing national security risks?
With robots smashing walls autonomously, are safety regulations prepared for the real-world risks of this new technology?