UBTECH expands humanoid robotics work with FAW-Volkswagen into logistics and smart manufacturing
The agreement adds joint logistics development and testing to earlier Walker S Lite quality-inspection work at FAW-Volkswagen’s Qingdao factory.
UBTECH Robotics and FAW-Volkswagen have entered a strategic cooperation agreement covering joint development and testing of embodied-intelligence robots for logistics, alongside demonstration projects to expand humanoid use across smart-manufacturing environments. The announcement does not specify a robot model, deployment volumes, commercial order value or timetable for scaled rollout.
The agreement extends an existing relationship. FAW-Volkswagen previously opened its Qingdao National Intelligent Manufacturing Demonstration Factory to UBTECH, where Walker S Lite was introduced for vehicle quality inspection. The new programme broadens that work toward logistics and additional manufacturing scenarios through joint application development, testing and demonstration deployments.
FAW-Volkswagen operates production bases in Changchun, Chengdu, Foshan, Qingdao and Tianjin. The automaker has produced and sold more than 30 million vehicles across its Volkswagen, Audi and JETTA portfolios, providing a substantial manufacturing footprint for testing robotics applications in automotive production.
UBTECH’s industrial humanoid work centres on the Walker S family. Its industrial application portfolio includes material handling, quality inspection, assembly, fluid filling and parts logistics across automotive customers. At BYD, the company has demonstrated coordination between a Walker humanoid, autonomous logistics vehicles, AMRs and factory-management systems. Walker systems have also been deployed or tested with NIO, Zeekr and Dongfeng Liuzhou Motor.
In the first half of 2026, UBTECH reported 921 full-size embodied-intelligence humanoid robots sold, generating approximately RMB590 million (~$88 million) in revenue, up from RMB38 million (~$5.7 million) a year earlier. Full-size humanoids accounted for 46.5% of total company revenue during the period.
UBTECH says its new humanoid factory has entered operation with designed capacity at the 10,000-unit scale. The company expects industrial, commercial and consumer robot lines to ramp production and deliveries during the second half of 2026. That capacity is a design figure, rather than a disclosed production volume.
