Shenzhen-based UBTECH Robotics, a leading Chinese humanoid robot maker, has signed a strategic cooperation agreement with European aviation titan Airbus. The deal includes the purchase of UBTECH’s latest Walker S2 industrial humanoid robot for use in Airbus manufacturing plants, marking a major step in applying Chinese robotics technology to global, high-precision industries.
In a significant vote of confidence for China’s advanced manufacturing sector, UBTECH Robotics has landed a flagship partner: Airbus. The Chinese unicorn announced on Sunday that it signed a cooperation deal with the aviation giant, which will purchase UBTECH’s advanced Walker S2 industrial humanoid robots for use in its production facilities. This partnership, reported by the Global Times, propels Chinese humanoid robots from domestic factories onto the global stage of aerospace manufacturing—one of the most demanding industrial environments in the world.
“This cooperation with Airbus means that… UBTECH Robotics has gradually expanded the application of its humanoid robots from industrial scenarios in China to five major global scenarios: aviation manufacturing, vehicle manufacturing, 3C electronics manufacturing, smart logistics, and semiconductor manufacturing,” the company stated. Following a strategic partnership with U.S. semiconductor giant Texas Instruments last year, the Airbus deal represents a pivotal expansion into a new, ultra-high-stakes field.
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The move underscores a broader trend of Chinese high-tech unicorns forging deep international links. UBTECH Robotics, founded in 2012, is a standout in this wave. The company reported its humanoid robot orders totaled more than 1.4 billion yuan ($200 million) in 2025, claiming the global top spot. It expects production capacity for its industrial humanoids to reach tens of thousands of units in 2026 and has begun deploying robots in overseas markets, including Europe and the U.S.
“China’s unicorn enterprises are an important force in technological innovation,” said Li Changan, a professor at the University of International Business and Economics, in an interview with the Global Times. He noted that the rapid growth of companies like UBTECH demonstrates the vitality supported by national economic development and an improving business environment. This trend is reflected in the numbers: a recent Hurun Research Institute report identified 796 publicly listed Chinese unicorns founded after 2000, with a combined valuation of 24 trillion yuan.
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UBTECH is not alone in its international push. Chinese electric vehicle unicorn XPENG is also advancing rapidly overseas, with its 2025 overseas deliveries surging 96 percent year-on-year, according to the Yangcheng Evening News. For UBTECH, the Airbus collaboration is a technical and commercial milestone. The company frames humanoid robots as a form of “new quality productive forces,” and this deal extends their industrial value into the rigorous world of aviation, where precision and reliability are non-negotiable.
Professor Li Changan observed that China’s unicorns are accelerating their concentration in hard-tech sectors like robotics, with industrial clustering becoming more evident. “With the further implementation of policies supporting technological innovation and enterprises… more unicorn companies are expected to emerge,” he stated.
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The agreement with Airbus is more than a sale; it’s a validation. It signals that Chinese-developed robotics systems are being trusted to operate in the same factories that build some of the world’s most complex machines. For UBTECH Robotics, it’s a launchpad from being a domestic leader to becoming a credible global player in industrial automation, proving that its robots can walk the walk on the world’s most advanced production floors.
