Backflipping robot maker Unitree surges 542% in Shanghai trading debut

Chinese robotics company Unitree has unveiled a new humanoid robot named Superman, which it claims can run faster than Usain Bolt. The company, preparing for an IPO valued at $9 billion, showcased the robot's capabilities earlier this year during a half-marathon race in Beijing. Unitree has produced significantly more robots than its US competitors, and the unveiling of Superman marks a significant milestone for China's burgeoning robotics industry.

The robot can achieve speeds of 12.66 meters per second, surpassing Bolt's world-record pace of 12.4 m/s. Additionally, Superman can jump two meters vertically, beating the human world record for a standing high jump. Despite its robotic appearance, Superman demonstrates China's rapid advancements in robotics technology, with the company having shipped nearly 6,000 humanoid robots in the first half of 2026 alone.

The market for humanoid robots, predicted to grow to $7.5 trillion by 2050, is currently dominated by Unitree and its local competitors. However, US humanoid robots, such as Tesla's Optimus, still have a ways to go before entering the commercial market.