Last year, over 600,000 new industrial robots were installed worldwide, with China accounting for 354,000 of those units, according to the International Federation of Robotics. This represents a 20% increase from 2024 and highlights China's dominance in the global robotics market. The United States and Japan follow, but China installs more than 14 times as many robots annually as Germany, Europe’s leading industrial power, which installed 73,000 robots last year—down 21% compared to 2023. Industrial robots are machines designed to perform specific, repetitive tasks in industries such as electronics, automotive, and metallurgy. In China, companies like BYD and Xiaomi have deployed thousands of these robots on their production lines. For example, Xiaomi's factory near Beijing uses 700 robots to produce a vehicle every 76 seconds. Since 2024, most of the industrial robots used in Chinese factories have been manufactured domestically, with 55.1% of all robots installed last year coming from Chinese producers, though this percentage has slightly decreased from previous years. The push for automation in China is part of a broader strategy to modernize its industrial base and reduce reliance on manual labor. As China's population ages and more people seek work outside of traditional factory jobs, robots help maintain production efficiency and product quality. This shift is also helping to offset labor shortages and reduce manufacturing costs for Chinese companies. In addition to economic benefits, China's advancements in robotics are being used as a form of soft power. Tourist routes that include visits to electric vehicle factories, robotaxis, and artificial intelligence companies have grown in popularity. During a recent visit to Hangzhou by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, videos of Chinese-made humanoid robots were shared, reinforcing China's image as a global leader in technology. According to Omdia, 87% of the world’s humanoid robots delivered in 2025 were manufactured in China, further emphasizing the country's growing influence in the robotics industry.