BYD, a Chinese company known for its electric vehicles, has unveiled plans for a humanoid robot designed to perform tasks such as cleaning homes and preparing meals. The details of the robot were outlined in a patent published by the Chinese National Intellectual Property Administration, which describes it as a product for the post-electric vehicle era. The robot has a black and white human-like silhouette with a rounded head that does not include a screen. Its body includes multiple joints on the arms, legs, and hands, allowing for a wide range of movement. According to the patent, the robot is capable of walking, maintaining balance, and interacting with humans through conversation. BYD envisions the robot performing tasks in public spaces such as schools, as well as in dealerships and homes. The project is being led by Yi Ziqi, executive vice president of BYD, and the robot stands 1.61 meters tall and weighs 58.5 kilograms. It has 31 axes of movement and hands that can repeat gestures with a precision of about 1 mm. The goal is for the robot to be able to grasp objects or demonstrate features in dealerships. Stella Li, another executive vice president of BYD, mentioned that the company plans to have two to three humanoid robots in each dealership. These robots would greet visitors, showcase electric cars, and demonstrate the features of the vehicles. Stella Li estimates that a humanoid robot could be deployed in a dealership within one to two years, though human staff would remain essential in customer interactions. However, the public presentation of the robot, which was announced last summer, did not occur as scheduled. BYD has been exploring robotics since 2022 when it established a dedicated task force for the field. In the following year, the company invested in AgiBot, a Chinese firm specializing in humanoid robots. In 2025, BYD invested over 100 million yuan in PaXini, a company that develops technologies to give robots a "sense" of touch. Since 2024, BYD has been testing a humanoid robot, the Walker S1 from UBTech, in its factories for handling and logistics tasks, even though it is not their own product. TrendForce, a technology analysis firm, predicts that production of humanoid robots in China will grow by 94% in 2026. BYD is well-positioned with its extensive factories, electric motors, batteries, software, and large commercial network. Its dealerships offer a ready-made environment to test its humanoid robots in front of real customers. Stella Li envisions future robots that could clean homes, prepare meals, or accompany individuals. In time, BYD's dealerships may also sell these humanoid robots directly to consumers.