China's robotics sector surges as humanoid factories and delivery bots expand

China is experiencing a faster‑than‑expected uptake of humanoid robots, prompting a revision of market forecasts. Morgan Stanley lifted its estimate for shipments to around 50,000 units in 2026 – nearly double its earlier outlook – and projects the domestic market could reach $2 billion this year and $15 billion by 2030. The growth is driven by practical deployments in factories, retail outlets and service settings, alongside strong government support through subsidies, credit and real‑estate incentives.

At the same time, JD.com founder Richard Liu warned that about 700,000 delivery couriers will eventually be replaced by autonomous delivery robots. JD.com plans to retrain the affected workers for roles such as robot maintenance and other new areas, having already arranged training partnerships with roughly 120 schools. The move reflects a broader trend toward automation in China's gig‑economy, which is projected to encompass 320 million autonomous workers by the end of 2026.