Leveraging intelligent technology pivot

More importantly, Chinese technology is arriving on the global stage with a sleek, high-tech confidence. Leading the charge is AgiBot, a Shanghai-based company that has become the world's top humanoid robot shipper, according to a report by market research firm Omdia.

The company began delivering to overseas customers in 2025 and opened its first international experience center in Malaysia in January.

Then, in late February 2026, AgiBot made a decisive move into Europe. At a launch event in Munich, Germany, the company officially announced its entry into the German market, unveiling a full portfolio of general-purpose embodied robots and industry-specific system solutions tailored for Europe.

But the announcement that drew the most attention was a strategic partnership with Minth Group, a global leader in automotive exterior and structural parts.

Under the agreement, Minth's network of modern factories around the world will serve as dedicated training grounds for AgiBot's robots — real-world environments where machines can learn, collect data and refine their algorithms.

Esther Wei, Minth Group's chairwoman and CEO, said: "This partnership not only drives Minth's own smart manufacturing upgrade, but also injects precious real-scenario data into the robotics industry, accelerating algorithm iteration and technological evolution".

Customs data show that in the first quarter of this year, China's total exports of various types of robots reached 11.32 billion yuan ($1.67 billion), with shipments to 148 countries and regions. Among them, cleaning robots accounted for nearly 70 percent, becoming the main driver of exports.

For instance, walk into a tech park in Shenzhen's Nanshan district, and you will see the commercial reality behind the spectacle. Pudu Robotics has been quietly shipping service robots to more than 80 countries and regions — not only floor-cleaning machines, but also food-delivery robots that navigate crowded restaurants and customer-engagement bots that greet shoppers in malls across Europe and Southeast Asia. By the end of 2025, Pudu had shipped a total of 120,000 robots, the company said.

A few blocks away, engineers are putting a four-legged robot through its paces. At 62 kilograms, it is no toy. In one three-minute test, it performed continuous back-flips, side flips and a spinning jump that launched it 87 centimeters off the ground.

The secret? A local supply chain so efficient that the company can source all 30,000 components within half a day. That speed has allowed eight product iterations in just six months — a pace that leaves many overseas competitors struggling to keep up.

Shenzhen Dobot Corp Ltd, specializing in industrial robot arms, has also shipped its precision manipulators to more than 100 countries and regions. Walk into a factory in Germany or a warehouse in Brazil, and you are increasingly likely to see a Chinese-made robotic arm handling delicate assembly or heavy lifting.