China’s Pudu Robotics, which makes 80% of its sales abroad, takes on Tesla in humanoids

Pudu Robotics, a Shenzhen-based company that generates 80% of its sales globally, aims to compete with Tesla in the humanoid robot market, according to its founder and CEO, Felix Zhang Tao. The company, which currently leads the industry in shipments and revenues for commercial service robots, has been focusing on specialised machines for various tasks, including cleaning hotel floors, handling restaurant dishes, and moving heavy goods in factories.

However, Pudu is now exploring the development of general-purpose humanoids and hybrid models that combine the two form factors.

International sales make up the majority of Pudu's business, with Europe playing a significant role in its growth. In 2025, Frost & Sullivan ranked the company first globally in terms of shipments and revenues for commercial service robots. In response to the expansion, Pudu opened its European headquarters in Germany and established a US base in Dallas in April. Zhang mentioned that opening local operations in Europe is a "natural step" in its global expansion rather than a defensive measure against trade barriers.

However, Pudu faces challenges due to rising protectionism. In November, the European Union launched an anti-dumping investigation into Chinese robotic lawnmowers, while the US imposed restrictions on imports of new Chinese robots in July, citing national security and supply chain concerns. To navigate these geopolitical complexities, Pudu is adopting a "glocal" strategy, balancing global reach with local operations.

Despite the growing competition in the humanoid robot sector, which includes Tesla, Apptronik, Unitree Robotics, AgiBot, Xpeng, and Xiaomi, Zhang expressed confidence in Pudu's hardware expertise, extensive customer network, and strong brand recognition. He emphasized that the company's decade-long research and development efforts, an intellectual property portfolio of over 1,900 patents, and nine major international industrial design awards distinguish it from newcomers entering the market.

Zhang also addressed concerns about job displacement due to the rise of humanoids, arguing that machines would instead address labour shortages caused by ageing populations in wealthy economies. Ultimately, Pudu's goal is to free humans from mundane tasks, allowing them to pursue their passions or simply enjoy life. However, widespread adoption of humanoid robots remains a distant prospect, with Zhang estimating it will take at least five to 10 years for the technology to mature, and even longer for widespread adoption.