Investment bank JPMorgan has issued new recommendations on the humanoid robotics sector, highlighting four Chinese companies as well-positioned to benefit from growing demand. According to JPMorgan analysts, 2025 marks a turning point for humanoid robots, as the industry shifts from research and development to commercial delivery, with contracts and order volumes increasing.
The four firms named with an “overweight” rating are UBTech, Sanhua Intelligent, Leader Drive, and Hengli Hydraulic. These companies are regarded as leading players in the emerging humanoid robotics value chain.
UBTech recently announced a purchase contract worth 250 million yuan (about $35 million USD) for its Walker S2 humanoid robots. The deal, described as the largest single order of humanoid robots worldwide to date, underscores the scale of commercial opportunities now opening in this field.
Sanhua Intelligent, Leader Drive, and Hengli Hydraulic are also viewed by JPMorgan as strategically placed to supply critical components and systems for humanoid robotics, from motion control to hydraulics.
The report places the developments in the wider context of increasing investor interest in humanoid robots. In recent weeks, Tesla CEO Elon Musk emphasized that his company’s humanoid robot Optimus could eventually account for as much as 80% of Tesla’s value, a statement that has further fueled speculation around the sector’s long-term growth potential.
As an example of broader industry momentum, Andromeda, an Australian humanoid robotics startup, has just raised $23 million in Series A funding to accelerate development of its companion robot Abi. The new capital will support expansion into the U.S. aged-care market and deployment of the fully autonomous Genesis Abi model in Australian facilities. The funding round, one of the largest Series A raises led by a woman in Australia this year, highlights how humanoid robotics is drawing significant investment not only in China and the U.S., but also in emerging innovation hubs worldwide.
According to JPMorgan, the next stage for the humanoid robotics industry will be defined by practical deployment in industrial and service environments. Analysts expect more contracts, larger order sizes, and a shift toward measurable productivity gains. While the sector is still at an early stage, JPMorgan’s call signals growing confidence among institutional investors that humanoid robotics could evolve into a significant market within the broader automation landscape.
