The recent buzz surrounding the potential entry of Seres, a prominent player in the automotive sector, into the humanoid robotics arena has sent ripples through the A-share market, significantly boosting the shares associated with humanoid robotsOn November 4, Seres issued a response that sparked intrigue, dispelling speculation: “We have not partnered with anyone to develop humanoid robotsAs a technology-driven automotive company, we will continue to focus on the main track of new energy smart electric vehicles while also keeping an eye on frontier technology exploration and research and development in related fields.”

The actual scope of Seres’s business remains to be seen, but what's undeniable is the growing influence of automotive companies in the humanoid robotics industryThroughout this year, humanoid robots have been integrated into various automotive factories for practical training

Companies like Toyota, BAIC Group, SAIC Group, and Xpeng Motors have already started to extend their reach into the field of humanoid robots through investments or by developing their own technologies.

So, why are major automotive companies particularly interested in humanoid robots? The founder of a humanoid robot (HR) manufacturer based in Shenzhen shared insight with reporters from Shanghai Securities, indicating that car manufacturers possess a natural first-mover advantage in the production and application of humanoid robots, as the two are inherently complementaryFrom a hardware perspective, a new energy vehicle comprises tens of thousands of components, while humanoid robots require just over a thousand parts, creating significant overlap in their supply chainsOn the software front, years of investment in autonomous driving have given automotive firms access to a wealth of artificial intelligence expertise, forming a robust foundation for the development of embodied intelligence.”

The renewed interest from car manufacturers in the humanoid robots sector raises pertinent questions

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For traditional automotive giants, collaborating with pioneers in the humanoid robot field has turned into a trendRecently, Toyota Research Institute (TRI), which operates under Toyota Motor Corporation, has partnered with South Korea's Hyundai Motors and its Boston Dynamics subsidiary to develop humanoid robots equipped with artificial intelligenceThe collaboration aims to leverage TRI's expertise in large behavioral models and Boston Dynamics’ advanced robotics capabilities to explore the potential applications of AI-integrated robots in human-robot interaction and other fields.

Crossing the Pacific, we see the automotive and humanoid robotics sectors engaging in a noteworthy exchangeOn one side, humanoid robot companies are disclosing their engagements within factoriesDespite the current limitations of humanoid robots, automotive companies remain intrigued by them, eager to gradually replace traditional labor forces with these robots

A senior executive from an HR company revealed, “Almost every automotive manufacturer has reached out to us, looking to integrate humanoid robots to relieve the basic labor in their factories.”

Simultaneously, automotive companies are not just observing; they are taking actionFor example, Zhujijizhi, a humanoid robotics firm, has secured strategic financing in its Series A round led by the private equity investment platform of SAIC GroupIn discussing its motivations for participating in this funding round, Shangqi Capital, an investor, stated, “With the explosion of large model technologies and decreasing hardware costs, we believe humanoid robots will become the next-generation intelligent terminal hardware capable of supporting AI.”

Besides SAIC, other automotive firms like BYD and BAIC Group have also invested in humanoid robotics initiativesThe industry unicorn, ZhiYuan Robotics, has attracted investment from BYD, which marks a notable engagement between automotive giants and the burgeoning HR sector

Furthermore, this past June, Galaxy General Robotics announced the completion of a substantial 700 million yuan in angel financing, with contributions from strategic and industrial investors, including Meituan's strategic investment department, BAIC Investment, SenseTime’s Guoxiang Fund, and iFlytek Fund.

Adding to this momentum, companies like Tesla, Chery Group, and Xpeng Motors have ambitious plans for in-house humanoid robots, with Tesla being the most aggressive and aggressive in its timelinesRecently, Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla, indicated on social media that the company aims to commence small-scale production of its humanoid robot, Optimus, by 2025, with hopes for mass production and distribution to other companies by 2026.

Xu Bin, the general manager of the National-Local Joint Human-Robot Innovation Center, provides valuable insights into the significance of automotive companies venturing into the humanoid robotics sector

He notes that, firstly, automotive manufacturers possess real production lines, representing authentic application scenarios where humanoid robots can demonstrate their value and expedite mutual developmentSecondly, automotive manufacturers are inclined to enter the robotics domain due to the shared foundational technologies between electric vehicles and roboticsTesla, for instance, conceptualizes its humanoid robot strategy building upon its electric vehicle technologyLastly, one of the developmental directions for electric vehicles is autonomous driving (Full Self-Driving, or FSD), which has overlapping technological pathways with humanoid robotics, prompting automakers to explore humanoid robots as a way to propel their technological trajectory.

Given the mature landscape of industrial robots and robotic arms, the question arises: why are automotive producers eager to introduce humanoid robots in factories? The founder of an HR firm suggests the competition isn't strictly from industrial robots; instead, the primary motivator is a control over labor costs

He argues that through decades of industrial evolution, existing industrial robots and robotic arms have become adept at performing rapid, precision-intensive repetitive tasksHowever, humanoid robots are better suited for varied and intricate tasks—whereby, within an hour, one may switch from task A to B, or where certain assembly jobs necessitate logical reasoning and physical dexterity, which humanoid robots can provide.

For automotive manufacturers, the paramount driver for integrating humanoid robots is overcoming labor costsAs labor prices climb and challenges in recruitment intensify, such robots offer a compelling alternativeWhile the cost of humanoid robots is on the decline, with estimates suggesting prices could align with Elon Musk's prediction of around $20,000, the value proposition becomes increasingly attractive.

Looking at the broader industry chain, several publicly listed companies in China are quickly adopting humanoid robotics

On November 4, Hengchuan Technology announced that it boasts cutting-edge technologies such as servo driver software, bus communication technology, and integrated control chips; it holds a significant market share in servo products domesticallyThe company places considerable emphasis on its humanoid robotics segment, having established a dedicated subsidiary for this purpose while actively seeking partnerships with leading humanoid robotics enterprises for collaborative opportunities.

At the 24th China International Industry Fair, Dongtu Technology showcased its self-developed Hongdao Operating System (Intewell), AUTBUS bus, and core technologies involving industrial AI, along with capabilities relevant to intelligent connected vehicles, humanoid robots, low-altitude economics, and commercial spaceflightThese features exemplify the growing integration of humanoid robots across diverse applications.

Currently, humanoid robots have yet to exert significant pressure on factory jobs within the automotive sector; however, the industry still grapples with challenges such as high hardware entry barriers, complex software algorithms, and the difficulty of decoupling hardware from software