Humanoid-maker Unitree surges more than 500% on Shanghai debut

Shanghai: Shares of Chinese humanoid-robot maker Unitree Robotics surged more than 500% during their debut on the Shanghai Stock Exchange's STAR Market on Aug. 19, 2026, highlighting the intense investor interest in China's rapid expansion of artificial intelligence, robotics, and "physical AI." The company, formerly known as Hangzhou Yushu Technology, priced its IPO at 150.80 yuan ($21) per share and raised approximately 6.1 billion yuan ($905 million), setting an initial valuation of around 61 billion yuan ($9 billion).

Retail investors subscribed for Unitree's IPO over 8,000 times the available shares, underscoring the speculative appetite for China's burgeoning robotics industry. Founded in Hangzhou in 2016 by Wang Xingxing, Unitree initially gained attention for producing affordable four-legged robots, later advancing into humanoid machines capable of various complex movements, including walking, running, dancing, and martial arts.

The company is seen as a key representative of China's goal to commercialize embodied AI, or robots that can perceive their environment, make decisions, and interact physically with the real world. Ahead of the listing, Unitree unveiled a new humanoid named "Superman," capable of running up to 12.66 meters per second and jumping vertically about 2 meters, demonstrating the speed and agility of China's rapidly advancing robotics sector.

Unitree's IPO is notable as it marks the first listing of a general-purpose humanoid robotics company on mainland China's stock market, providing investors with a direct public investment in the nation's humanoid-robot industry.