2026 Beijing Auto Show Spotlights Humanoid and Embodied AI Robots as Automakers and Suppliers Pivot to Mass Production

During the 2026 Beijing Auto Show, major automakers including FAW, GAC, Chery, and XPeng showcased humanoid robots and related core technologies. Numerous intelligent automotive component suppliers also unveiled embodied intelligence solutions or announced strategic upgrades. Non-automotive companies such as Honor and Agility Robotics participated with their robotic products, enabling direct interaction with attendees. FAW Group made its debut with a full-scale humanoid robot and simultaneously presented a comprehensive product matrix comprising service-oriented humanoids, wheeled-arm hybrids, quadrupedal robots, and lightweight joint modules. The full-scale humanoid targets high-precision heavy-duty tasks; the service model is designed for greeting customers at 4S stores; the wheeled-arm variant focuses on industrial material handling and assembly; and the quadruped excels in inspection within hazardous environments. FAW stated it completed development and debuted the robot in just 190 days, establishing a five-dimensional collaborative system encompassing “brain, body, integration, data, and components.” GAC’s subsidiary HuiLun Tech exhibited its fourth-generation humanoid robot, GoMate Mini, featuring an adaptive wheel-leg structure, capable of speeds up to 15 km/h and over eight hours of battery life. It has already entered routine operation on Guangzhou Metro lines and is expanding into automotive production lines, property management, and commercial districts. Chery’s MoJia Robotics launched three products: the ZhiJing (Smart Police) robot, the humanoid MoYin, and the quadrupedal robot dog Argos. Argos has surpassed 1,000 units delivered, while ZhiJing is deployed nationwide for school safety patrols and traffic management. XPeng announced its rebranding as “XPeng Group,” positioning itself as a global embodied intelligence company. It plans to begin mass production of its IRON humanoid robot by the end of 2026, initiate commercial sales in 2027, and achieve a monthly production capacity of over 1,000 units, supported by a fully integrated manufacturing base under construction in Guangzhou. Li Auto emphasized strengthening its “embodied intelligence” identity, identifying 2026 as a critical window to become a leading global AI enterprise. Xiaomi also displayed its latest humanoid robot, with CyberOne already performing assembly tasks in its own vehicle factories. More than ten automakers have publicly disclosed robotics strategies, signaling that “building robots” is shifting from a differentiating experiment to a standard offering among mainstream carmakers. Meanwhile, key supply chain players—including Aptiv, EHang Intelligence, Horizon Robotics, Valeo, Sichuan Chipintec, NavInfo, HiRain Technologies, Qingshan Industry, Xingyu Shares, and Wuxi Weifu Group—showcased core technological solutions such as joint modules, embodied “brains,” and dexterous hands. Aptiv noted that autonomous driving and embodied intelligence share highly aligned foundational perception logic, with its PULSE™ multimodal perception system already applied in collaborative robots. EHang Intelligence asserted that autonomous driving and robotics stem from the same technological roots, allowing reuse of talent, supply chains, and technology; its first robot prototype has been developed and secured demonstration deployment projects. Chery’s MoJia leverages Chery’s autonomous driving environmental understanding capabilities, triple-electric (e-motor, e-control, battery) technologies, and solid-state batteries to achieve centimeter-level positioning, dynamic obstacle avoidance, and extended operational endurance. Industry consensus is shifting from “being able to move” to “being able to perform”—emphasizing stable task execution and cost-effectiveness in real-world scenarios. Agility Robotics declared 2026 the “Year One of Deployment,” noting that investors now favor companies with deployable products, verified orders, and proven business models. In Q1 2026 alone, China’s embodied intelligence sector recorded over 200 disclosed funding rounds totaling more than RMB 30 billion, with the majority flowing to commercially deployed enterprises. Given the highly fragmented nature of application scenarios, industry experts believe no single “super giant” will dominate all domains; instead, different scenarios demand robots with tailored forms and capability combinations. The 2026 Beijing Auto Show marks the automotive industry’s collective pivot toward embodied intelligence, with competition now centered on who can first establish replicable, scalable paths to mass production and commercialization in real-world settings.