Huawei Technologies has enlarged its investment in robotics and intelligent manufacturing by injecting an additional 3 billion yuan (approximately $413 million) into Dongguan Jimu Machinery Co., Ltd., bringing the company’s total registered capital to 3.89 billion yuan. Jimu Machinery, originally established in mid-2023, is fully owned by Huawei and chaired by Li Jianguo, a senior executive and member of the company’s board of directors.
The company has been actively investing in robotics, with previous initiatives including the launch of its Global Embodied AI Industry Innovation Centre in Shenzhen. Opened in late 2024, the centre aims to integrate AI technologies into physical systems, including robotics, and has already partnered with leading firms such as Leju Robot and Han’s Robot.
Huawei’s interest in robotics can be traced back to its initial collaboration with Shanghai-based Dataa Robotics in April 2022. That partnership focused on developing multimodal AI models and applications, supported by Huawei’s Ascend AI computing services. Huawei has also been exploring robotics hardware, including humanoid robots powered by its proprietary Pangu large language model, further emphasizing the company’s commitment to combining AI and robotics.
China’s Robotics Industry
Huawei’s investment in Jimu Machinery comes as China’s robotics industry experiences unprecedented growth. The country has surpassed Germany and Japan in industrial robot adoption, according to the International Federation of Robotics’ 2024 report. At the World Robot Conference held in Beijing earlier this year, Chinese firms showcased advanced robots capable of complex tasks such as cooking and stocking shelves, reflecting the rapid development of the sector.
Local governments have also introduced a range of policies to stimulate robotics innovation. Cities such as Chongqing have pledged financial incentives, including subsidies of up to 10 million yuan for robotics projects, as part of a nationwide strategy to dominate the global robotics market. This strategic diversification also reflects Huawei’s response to ongoing U.S. sanctions, which have limited its access to advanced chip technologies.
