Unitree Robotics Soars 542% in Shanghai Debut as China’s Humanoid Robot Boom Accelerates

Unitree Robotics made a dramatic debut on Shanghai’s STAR Market, with its shares initially jumping nearly 630% before giving back some gains. The stock ultimately closed at 845 yuan, still more than 460% above its IPO price.

The Hangzhou-based company raised approximately 6.1 billion yuan ($905 million) through the offering. The IPO attracted prominent technology investors, including Chinese AI company DeepSeek, which invested around 140.8 million yuan, while Tencent is already among Unitree’s existing backers.

Unitree has become one of China’s most recognizable robotics companies through videos showcasing humanoid machines capable of dancing, performing backflips and completing increasingly complex physical tasks. Its portfolio also includes four-legged robots designed for applications such as industrial inspection and hazard detection.

Just ahead of the listing, Unitree unveiled a new humanoid robot called “Superman.” The company says the machine can jump two meters from a standing position and reach running speeds of up to 12.66 meters per second, highlighting the rapid improvement in physical capabilities across the sector.

Unitree’s blockbuster debut follows another high-profile technology listing on Shanghai’s STAR Market. Chinese memory chipmaker CXMT surged 466% on its first trading day in July, underscoring strong domestic investor appetite for companies positioned around strategically important technologies.

The enthusiasm comes as expectations for China’s humanoid robotics industry continue to rise. Morgan Stanley recently increased its forecast for Chinese humanoid robot shipments in 2026 to 50,000 units, almost double its previous estimate of 28,000.

The bank expects China’s humanoid robot market to expand from around $2 billion in 2026 to $15 billion by 2030. Pilot projects are also expected to transition toward broader commercial deployments during the second half of this year.

Full-size humanoids could represent roughly 30% of Chinese shipments this year and rise to 70% by 2028, according to Morgan Stanley. That transition would mark an important shift from experimental deployments toward robots becoming a more meaningful part of industrial and commercial operations.

Unitree’s extraordinary first-day rally therefore reflects more than enthusiasm surrounding a single IPO. It highlights growing investor expectations that humanoid robotics could emerge as one of China’s next major technology growth industries, although the scale of the debut surge also suggests valuations are increasingly pricing in significant future growth.