On March 20th, Minsheng Group signed a strategic cooperation agreement with Zhiyuan Robotics, and the two sides will carry out in-depth cooperation on intelligent exterior decoration, wireless charging, joint assembly, and flexible intelligent manufacturing solutions for humanoid robots. One week later, Zhiyuan Robotics held its first supplier conference to discuss new opportunities for collaborative innovation and development with numerous partners. Market analysts point out that several automotive parts companies such as Southern Precision, Zhongdalide, and Wolong Electric have become suppliers of Zhiyuan robots.

As an emerging industry, humanoid robots are becoming a global focus of attention. Automotive parts companies, with their keen market insight, quickly entered this track, aiming to create a "second growth curve". This transformation stems from the vast market prospects of humanoid robots and the deep foundation of enterprises in precision manufacturing, mechatronics integration, and other fields. Humanoid robots are highly similar in core technology to automotive parts manufacturing, and the technology and experience accumulated by automotive parts companies can be smoothly transferred to the field of humanoid robots. In addition, component companies have rich experience in high-precision manufacturing, large-scale production, cost control, and have mature supply chain systems.

Goldman Sachs research report predicts that by 2035, global shipments of humanoid robots will reach 1.4 million units, with a market size of approximately $38 billion. The integration of automotive supply chain and humanoid robots is leading a new industrial transformation, and the coordinated development of the two will bring more surprises in the future.

The upstream of humanoid robots is the manufacturing of core components, which accounts for nearly 70% of the cost. Automotive parts companies actively layout in core areas such as sensors, reducers, motors, and screws. According to incomplete statistics, more than 20 automotive parts companies in the A-share market have entered the field of humanoid robots through strategic cooperation, project investment, and other means, with a cumulative investment of billions of yuan.

In the field of sensors, humanoid robot perception systems include visual, force, tactile, inertial, and auditory sensors. Among them, 3D vision is the core component, which can be divided into binocular/multi vision, structured light, time-of-flight (ToF), etc. according to the technical route. Sagitar Juchuang launched the world's first fully solid-state digital LiDAR E1R robot in January this year, which has gradually been mass-produced and delivered. Hesai Technology released the mini 3D LiDAR JT series at CES 2025, with a delivery volume of 28813 units in the fourth quarter of 2024 and an expected shipment volume of 200000 units this year.

In the field of motors, motors are the power core of humanoid robots, and hollow cup motors and frameless torque motors are adapted to different parts. The agile hand of Tesla Optimus uses a hollow cup motor, while the body joints use frameless torque motors. As the humanoid robot industry enters the mass production stage, the demand for motors will grow rapidly. Wolong Electric Drive has formed the development capability of core units and has reached a strategic investment cooperation with Zhiyuan Robotics. Huichuan Technology has established a special team to focus on the development of core components such as motors and drives. Enterprises such as Sanhua Intelligent Control and Topu Group have also laid out their business in humanoid robot motors.

In the field of reducers, precision reducers are one of the core components of humanoid robots, which are divided into planetary reducers, RV reducers, and harmonic reducers. Enterprises such as Haoneng Co., Ltd., Fulin Precision Industry Co., Ltd., and Zhongding Co., Ltd. have already laid out robot reducer projects. As a leading reducer enterprise in China, Shuanghuan Transmission's RV reducer products have been adapted to models such as Tesla Optimus and have entered the Boston Power supply chain.

In the field of screw, screw is the core transmission component of humanoid robots, and mainstream solutions include trapezoidal, ball bearing, planetary roller, etc. Planetary roller screws have advantages such as high precision and long lifespan, but the manufacturing cost is relatively high. Southern Precision Industry, Wuzhou New Year and other enterprises have laid out screw research and industrialization projects to promote the process of domestic substitution.