2026-01-23 15:35Summary of Humanoid Sector Conference Call Industry Overview - The humanoid sector is entering 2026 with new players, products, and verified use cases, indicating a positive momentum for the industry [1][3] - The China humanoid volume forecast for 2026 has been raised significantly, reflecting rapid verification of new use cases across various industries such as battery, aviation, semiconductors, and logistics [7][8] Key Forecasts and Projections - The humanoid robot sales volume forecast for China in 2026 has been doubled from 14,000 units to 28,000 units, with business sales expected to lead this year [7][14] - A global humanoid component market model projects a revenue opportunity of US$780 billion by 2040, driven by significant internal production for training and verification [7][11] Major Developments and Trends - Major global companies are entering the humanoid market through acquisitions and new product launches, including: - Boston Dynamics launched its Atlas product at CES 2026, partnering with Google DeepMind [7][48] - Mobileye acquired Mentee Robotics for US$900 million, combining AI technology with humanoid robotics [7][42] - Qualcomm introduced the Dragonwing™ IQ10 robotics processor for humanoids [7][51] - The Optimus Gen 3 update from Tesla is anticipated to be a key catalyst for the sector, with significant implications for the China supply chain [7][8] Market Dynamics - The sector is experiencing fast cost deflation, with estimates indicating a 16% year-over-year decline in Bill of Materials (BoM) costs in China, despite rising specifications [8] - The first wave of consolidation is expected as integrators seek to find viable commercialization cases [8] Adoption and Use Cases - There is a strong willingness to adopt humanoid robots among organizations, with a significant percentage planning to launch pilot projects using wheel- or leg-based robots by 2026 [9][10] - The humanoid hype is evident, with numerous companies showcasing robots at CES 2026, particularly from China [8] Government and Policy Support - The Chinese government is actively promoting humanoid and embodied intelligence technologies, with policies aimed at accelerating their development and commercialization [62][66] - The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) is set to release guidelines to support the humanoid robot ecosystem [62][66] Investment and Funding Activity - Significant funding activity has been observed in the humanoid sector, with companies like Skild AI raising US$1.4 billion and Galbot achieving a US$3 billion valuation [42][48] - The number of transactions in the humanoid sector is increasing, indicating growing investor interest [41][42] Conclusion - The humanoid sector is poised for substantial growth in 2026, driven by technological advancements, increased investment, and supportive government policies. The upcoming developments, particularly from major players like Tesla and Boston Dynamics, will be critical in shaping the future landscape of the industry [1][7][8]