BYD is getting ready to make its biggest move yet beyond electric vehicles, confirming that it will unveil its first humanoid robot in August as Chinese automakers push deeper into robotics.
The company confirmed to Chinese media outlets that the robot will make its public debut at its Di Space experience centers in August after teasing "a new friend" in promotional material displayed at its Zhengzhou venue.
The robot is expected to interact with visitors rather than remain a concept on display, marking BYD's first public demonstration of a physical humanoid robot prototype.
Di Space serves as BYD's immersive technology and brand experience center, where the automaker showcases new products and innovations beyond traditional vehicle sales.
Robot sales assistants come into focus
BYD has already outlined where its humanoid robots could first go to work.
"The goal is to place two to three robots in each dealer store," BYD Executive Vice President Stella Li said. "These robots will not only explain vehicle models and display functions, but also create a more attractive showroom atmosphere."
Li has said the company expects robot sales assistants to be ready for commercial use within the next one to two years, although she has also noted that robots will not replace the human connection between customers and sales staff.
Beyond dealerships, BYD has described robotics as a natural extension of the manufacturing, software, hardware, AI, and supply-chain capabilities it has built through its automotive business.
China EV makers expand beyond cars
BYD is entering a field that has quickly become one of the most competitive areas of China's automotive industry.
XPeng has already begun small-batch trial production of its IRON humanoid robot and plans mass production in 2026 before a broader commercial rollout in 2027. Chery has started selling humanoid robots under its Aimoga brand, while other automakers including Seres, FAW, SAIC-GM, Xiaomi, and Li Auto are developing robots for factories, dealerships, logistics, and other commercial settings.
The shift comes as automakers increasingly view robotics as a business that can reuse many of the same technologies behind modern electric vehicles, including AI software, sensors, motion control, batteries, and manufacturing expertise.
China's push into humanoid robotics is also receiving policy support. In June, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology and the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission launched a national initiative aimed at accelerating real-world deployment of humanoid robots.
The plan calls for application verification and routine deployment in representative scenarios by the end of 2026 while developing more than 100 high-value application scenarios.
Challenges remain before robots become mainstream
Despite the excitement, humanoid robots are still far from replacing humans in everyday work.
The biggest hurdles include high production costs, complex movement control and the difficulty of creating machines that can safely operate in unpredictable environments. A robot that can explain a vehicle in a controlled showroom is very different from one capable of handling a wide range of tasks in homes, factories or public spaces.
BYD’s August unveiling will therefore be less about proving humanoid robots have arrived and more about showing how quickly automakers can turn experimental machines into useful commercial products.
Also read: Xpeng plans to put its IRON humanoid robot in car showrooms as it targets mass production by the end of 2026 and broader commercial deployment in 2027.