Unitree humanoid robots will already be available for purchase on AliExpress outside of China

Chinese robotics companies are expanding beyond their borders

Like electric vehicle manufacturers, companies developing humanoid robots will soon need to expand into the international market. Pioneers of this move could gain a significant competitive advantage.

Unitree Robotics – the first step toward global sales

It is planned that Unitree Robotics will sell its robots outside China through the popular marketplace Alibaba – AliExpress. According to *South China Morning Post*, the company’s most affordable humanoid robot, R1, will appear in the international catalog next week.

* What to expect:

* First, customers from North America, Europe, Japan, and Singapore will be able to place orders with delivery from China.

* Later, additional sales channels are planned to open.

Brief specification of R1

Parameter Value Price in China $4 370 Height 123 cm Weight ≥27 kg
R1 is trained to perform gymnastics exercises: “wheel,” push‑up, getting up from it, and descending a slope while running. The exact price for export markets has not yet been announced.

Unitree’s export figures

* During the period 2022‑2024, export revenue exceeded domestic revenue.

* In the first half of last year, the share of export revenue fell to 39 %.

* Unitree robots participated in a New Year show in Beijing that was broadcast nationwide.

* Last year the company delivered more than 5 000 humanoid robots – far more than all American competitors combined.

Plans for the current year

Unitree plans to deliver between 10 000 and 20 000 robots to the market. According to TrendForce, this year the company will capture half of the Chinese humanoid robot market, with Agibot taking second place at a 30 % share.