UBTECH and FAW-Volkswagen to Test Humanoid Robots in Logistics
UBTECH and FAW-Volkswagen signed a deal on Oct 8 to develop and test humanoid robots for factory logistics. It covers testing and demos, not a confirmed rollout.
UBTECH Robotics and FAW-Volkswagen announced a strategic cooperation agreement on October 8, 2026 to develop and test humanoid robots for factory logistics. The agreement covers development, testing and demonstration, not a confirmed production rollout. The companies have not said which robot, which plant or how many units.
UBTECH and FAW-Volkswagen sign a deal to test humanoids in factory logistics
The two companies will jointly develop and test embodied-intelligence robot applications for factory logistics. Embodied intelligence means AI that controls a robot body acting in the physical world, such as a humanoid that walks and handles parts.
They will also build demonstration scenarios to speed up the deployment of humanoids in smart manufacturing. The news was reported by Gasgoo, Interesting Engineering and Humanoids Daily, which cites a UBTECH statement on WeChat.
What FAW-Volkswagen and UBTECH have not disclosed
According to Interesting Engineering, Humanoids Daily, Humanoid Guide and Gadget Review, several basic details are missing:
- The robot model that will be used for logistics
- The specific logistics tasks
- The host site or sites
- The number of robots
- The order size or contract value
- Any timetable for routine deployment
FAW-Volkswagen has five production bases: Changchun, Chengdu, Foshan, Qingdao and Tianjin, according to Gasgoo. Which of them will host the trials has not been announced.
A partnership that started in Qingdao in July 2024
The two companies have worked together since July 2024. FAW-Volkswagen opened production-line scenarios at its Qingdao plant to UBTECH's industrial Walker S humanoid. Tasks included bolt tightening, component installation and parts handling. Both sides also agreed to cooperate on industrial logistics robots and the supply chain.
UBTECH's Walker S Lite has also been used for vehicle quality-inspection training at Qingdao. It is connected to the plant's automation control system, according to Interesting Engineering and Humanoids Daily, which cites UBTECH's own application page.
UBTECH's Liuzhou factory is ramping up humanoid production
UBTECH's humanoid factory in Liuzhou, in China's Guangxi region, began operating on September 12. It covers 14,000 square meters and makes Walker S and Cruzr robots. According to the Guangxi regional government, it can produce one robot every 10 minutes.
Gadget Review adds a stated annual capacity of more than 10,000 units. Gasgoo says UBTECH expects several product lines to ramp up and begin deliveries in the second half of 2026. These are capacity figures, not delivery numbers.
A secondary Chinese account on 163.com, citing UBTECH disclosures, lists FAW-Volkswagen, Audi FAW and BYD among UBTECH's customers. It also says Airbus bought a first batch of 100 units. We report this as that source's account, not as a confirmed order.
How BMW and SAIC compare: humanoid trials at carmakers
BMW. In a press release dated June 25, 2026, BMW said Figure 03 humanoids would start work on complex sequencing applications in logistics at Plant Spartanburg in the US. This follows a Figure 02 pilot in the body shop, which BMW said supported production of more than 30,000 BMW X3 vehicles over ten months.
Figure CEO Brett Adcock said the 11-month deployment "proved that humanoids are no longer lab experiments." Ulrich Wieland of BMW Manufacturing called Spartanburg "the birthplace of humanoid robotics" in BMW Manufacturing's day-to-day operations.
SAIC. On March 27, 2026, SAIC said its first humanoid robot employee, "Nengzai No. 1", began work on the Buick Electra E7 battery mass-production line. SAIC-GM and AgiBot developed it jointly, and it picks and loads battery cells. SAIC's own account describes it as a wheeled design.
SAIC says its humanoid-robot investment exceeds 800 million yuan. It also says it is piloting bipedal humanoids in production and logistics roles, and that Galaxy General robots are being tested at SAIC Yanfeng.
Logistics is also where other automation projects are advancing. See Amazon's robotized warehouse in Beauvais, France and the snags Walmart hit in warehouse automation.
Carmaker humanoid programs at a glance
| Carmaker / robot maker | Robots | Task | Status as reported | Caveat |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FAW-Volkswagen / UBTECH | Walker S, Walker S Lite | Logistics development and testing; earlier bolt tightening, parts handling and quality-inspection training at Qingdao | Agreement signed Oct 8, 2026 | Robot model for logistics, sites, numbers and timetable undisclosed |
| BMW / Figure | Figure 02, Figure 03 | Body shop work; logistics sequencing | BMW press release of June 25, 2026 announced Figure 03 work at Spartanburg | BMW told Forbes it is a non-production test with two or three robots |
| SAIC / AgiBot | Nengzai No. 1 | Battery-cell picking and loading | Reported by SAIC as working on the Buick Electra E7 line since March 27, 2026 | Wheeled design, per SAIC |
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