UNITREE WARNS OF INDUSTRY RISKS
China has made humanoid robotics a strategic priority as it seeks to become a global leader in the industry.
Chinese firms have drawn global attention with robots capable of running, dancing and performing martial arts, while seeking to expand their use in factories, warehouses and homes.
Morgan Stanley has estimated that China’s humanoid robot market will reach US$2 billion this year and grow to US$15 billion by 2030.
Despite the growing enthusiasm, Unitree has urged investors to exercise caution over the commercial prospects of humanoid robots.
On Oct 21, the company issued a stock exchange disclosure after its stock rose by more than 30 per cent over three trading sessions.
“The humanoid robot industry is still in the early stages of commercialisation, and there are uncertainties regarding technological maturity, the cultivation of downstream market demand, and the supporting capabilities of the industrial chain,” it noted.
Unitree urged investors to be mindful of the risks and make rational investment decisions.
The company went public in Shanghai in August, with its shares opening at 629 per cent above its IPO price. Despite the recent rally, the stock remains well below its debut price.
At the time of the listing, Wang said the industry was approaching a “ChatGPT moment” in embodied intelligence.
He added that the industry was nearing a breakthrough where robots could operate in unfamiliar environments and complete most tasks using simple voice or text instructions.