BYD says humanoid robots will be its next core business

BYD executive Stella Li said the company is advancing humanoid robot R&D “in full force” as a new core business track.aastocks
Initial robots will staff BYD’s global 4S dealerships for sales guidance and customer reception, building on the “Yao-Shun-Yu” project launched in late 2024.aastocks
Li said BYD’s automotive manufacturing expertise in software and precision hardware transfers directly to robotics, and robots will eventually enter homes.aastocks

BYD Advances Humanoid Robot R&D Targeting Global Dealerships and Homes

BYD is pushing into humanoid robotics as a new core business, with Executive Vice President Stella Li announcing the Chinese automaker is “advancing independent research and development of humanoid robots in full force,” according to remarks reported on May 26.aastocks

Li said humanoid robots will become a core business track for BYD alongside its new energy vehicle operations. The company’s initial deployment will focus on its global 4S dealership network, where robots will handle sales guidance and customer reception duties, providing what BYD described as “new support for the intelligent transformation of its retail outlets.”aastocks

From Factory Floor to Showroom

The robotics push builds on BYD’s “Yao-Shun-Yu” project, which was first launched in late 2024 under the company’s 15th Division. BYD had already begun deploying robots in production environments in 2025, and the company showcased a robot at the Brussels Motor Show in January 2026 that “sparked conversations” with visitors.aibase

Li argued that BYD’s automotive manufacturing expertise gives it an edge in the robotics race. “The complex software systems and precision hardware manufacturing experience accumulated in the automotive industry can be directly transferred to robot development, drastically minimizing challenges in technological breakthroughs,” she said.aastocks

Household Ambitions

Beyond dealerships, Li outlined longer-term plans for robots to enter homes, taking on daily tasks such as cleaning, cooking, and companionship — building what BYD calls “a full-scenario intelligent service ecosystem.”pandaily

The announcement comes as Chinese companies increasingly dominate the global humanoid robotics landscape. At CES 2026, 58 percent of humanoid robot exhibitors were Chinese firms. In May 2026, the city of Hangzhou deployed 15 humanoid robots for traffic management, marking another milestone in China’s push to commercialize the technology.linkedin

BYD’s robotics ambitions arrive at a complex moment for the company, which recently reported a sharp decline in profits even as it expands aggressively into new markets and technologies.ad-hoc-news