NIO is the newest Chinese car manufacturer to venture into the robotics industry.

      Nio's logo was displayed outside one of its offline stores on September 28, 2019, in Beijing. Credit: TechNode/Coco Gao

      NIO has formed a small team of approximately 20 employees to explore the feasibility of developing four-legged robots in-house. This team is led by Xu Kang, an algorithm expert who joined the electric vehicle manufacturer in 2020 after his tenure at the Chinese self-driving car startup Momenta. The 21st Century Business Herald of China reported on this initiative, although further details were not provided. New York-listed NIO has joined the ranks of Chinese carmakers looking into artificial intelligence robots, an emerging sector with significant growth potential that has already attracted established companies such as BYD, Chery, and GAC. Tesla is recognized as a frontrunner in this area, with CEO Elon Musk indicating that its humanoid robot, Optimus, may be available for purchase by the end of 2025, according to Reuters. In China, BYD recently announced a recruitment campaign for its Embodied Intelligent Research Team, following its investment in the Shanghai-based software and robotics startup Agibot a year earlier. GAC, a manufacturing partner of Toyota and Honda in China, recently highlighted its humanoid robot, which features adjustable wheels capable of navigating stairs, grass, and crowded environments, deemed complex settings. In 2021, Xpeng Motors introduced a four-legged, low-speed rideable robot pony for children, as reported by the South China Morning Post. Furthermore, major Chinese tech companies have begun delving into this industry; Huawei established a research center for embodied intelligence in Shenzhen last November, while Xiaomi unveiled a prototype of its humanoid robot in 2022. Certain car manufacturers, like Audi and Geely-owned Zeekr, are testing robots developed with Hong Kong-listed UBTECH in their facilities.

      Jill Shen is a technology reporter based in Shanghai, focusing on Chinese mobility, autonomous vehicles, and electric cars. You can connect with her via email at [email protected] or on Twitter at @jill_shen_sh.