China’s GALBOT Raises Record $150 Million in Humanoid Robotics, Eyes Industrial Rollout with CATL, Bosch

Core Insights - GALBOT Robotics has raised RMB 1.1 billion (approximately $150 million) in a single funding round, marking the largest investment in China's humanoid robotics sector [2][3] - The company has raised over RMB 2.4 billion ($330 million) in total since its founding two years ago, positioning itself as a leading player in China's AI robotics market [3] - GALBOT is projected to achieve several hundred million yuan in revenue this year, driven by deployments in logistics and retail [4] Funding and Investment - The recent funding round was led by CATL Capital and Puquan Capital, with participation from several other investment funds [3] - The significant investment reflects the growing interest and potential in the humanoid robotics and embodied intelligence sector in China [2][3] Product Development and Innovation - GALBOT launched the world's first humanoid robot-powered smart retail solution, capable of fully automating operations in unmanned stores [6] - The company has developed OpenWBT, the first fully open-source teleoperation system for humanoid robots, in collaboration with Tsinghua University [10] - GALBOT's technical advancements include the integration of its foundational model with Unitree's quadruped robots for enhanced learning capabilities [11][12] Market Potential and Projections - The global industrial robot market is estimated at $100 billion annually, with potential shipment volumes for humanoid robots in the hundreds of thousands [14] - Projections indicate that China will ship 2,400 humanoid robots in 2024, with expectations to triple that number by the following year [19] - By 2035, the humanoid robot market in China could reach RMB 140 billion, with a potential shipment of 2 million units [19][20] Strategic Collaborations - GALBOT has signed a strategic memorandum of understanding with Bosch China and Bosch Ventures to advance humanoid robotics in industrial manufacturing [9] - The collaboration aims to commercialize and scale production, enhancing GALBOT's position in the market [9] Industry Outlook - Analysts view GALBOT as a frontrunner in the humanoid robotics sector due to its strong industrial links and strategic backers [13] - The global humanoid robot market is projected to reach $7 trillion by mid-century, with significant contributions from China [20]