China EV maker Xpeng has started a new production line for its humanoid robot Iron and released footage showing the robot walking off the line after assembly. The company said more than 80 percent of key processes are automated and that it will apply its car quality-control system to keep output consistent as volumes rise. Xpeng aims to begin mass production by the end of this year and plans initial deployments at its stores and campus.

China is positioning robotics as a core pillar of its AI strategy in its next five-year plan, shifting emphasis from software to hardware. It plans to unveil next-generation robots at the 2026 World Artificial Intelligence Conference. Analysts expect large subsidies and rising private investment, while China’s production share is seen as dominant. Industry groups and research institutes say gaps remain between demos and real-world use, and costs and dependencies persist.