Chinese robotics firm UBTech has generated $334 million in pre-orders for its new U1 humanoid companion robot in just four weeks.
The Shenzhen-based company launched the U1 series in June 2026, receiving over 5,000 pre-orders. The robots are priced between $16,600 and $137,500.
The U1 is designed as a household companion, not an industrial tool. It features 88 degrees of freedom for advanced movement and emotional AI designed to adapt to its user's mood over time.
Shipments are expected to begin in September 2026, with an annual production target of over 10,000 units once scaled.
This consumer-focused launch dwarfs UBTech's industrial business. The company's industrial humanoid sales generated roughly $115 million in all of 2025.
The move represents a strategic pivot from the company's established Walker series, used in factories and logistics, toward the personal robotics market.