UBTech agrees Airbus deal to expand robot use in aviation manufacturing

HONG KONG, Jan ⁠21 (Reuters) - Chinese ⁠robotics ‍firm UBTech said on Wednesday it had signed a deal with the world's ‍largest planemaker, Airbus, to supply robots for ​use in aviation manufacturing.

Airbus has already purchased UBTech's latest ​industrial humanoid robot, the Walker S2, UBTech said, adding that the "the two parties will jointly expand the application of ​humanoid robots in aerospace manufacturing scenarios in the future."

Airbus said in a statement that the ​cooperation with UBTech was in the early concept-testing stage.

Humanoid robots, that ‌are built to closely resemble human motion and behaviour, have become increasingly important ​to Beijing as it looks ⁠for solutions to pressing issues including trade frictions with the United States, ‌population decline and slowing growth.

In recent years, Chinese humanoid robots have demonstrated increasing feats of agility, including ‌performing somersaults, running a half marathon and even playing football.

UBTech ‌and Airbus' partnership comes after a deal last year that UBTech inked with U.S. semi conductor maker Texas ‍Instruments.

In 2025 UBTech's total humanoid robot order value exceeded 1.4 billion yuan, ⁠the company said. Production capacity for its industrial humanoid robots is expected to exceed 10,000 units in 2026.

(Reporting by Farah Master and the Beijing newsroom; Editing by Louise Heavens)

---

Serious News for Serious Traders! Try StreetInsider.com Premium Free!

---

You May Also Be Interested In

• After over 200 days at sea, U.S. aircraft carrier arrives in Thailand
• Brazil's Congress approves tax exemptions to attract data center investments
• Panama Canal sees $5.56 billion revenue in FY2027 budget proposal