RoboStore pivots to US manufacturing amid Chinese robot dominance

Chinese manufacturers currently dominate the global humanoid robot market, accounting for over 97% of shipments in the first half of 2026. According to Smart Analytics Global, Chinese firms shipped more than 18,500 units during this period, a significant increase from 5,100 units in the first half of 2025. Shanghai-based AgiBot and Hangzhou-based Unitree Robotics lead the market, collectively controlling approximately 75% of global shipments.

In response to US government restrictions on foreign-made robotics, US-based distributor RoboStore is pivoting its business model. Previously a major North American distributor for Unitree Robotics—serving clients such as Amazon, Nvidia, and various universities—RoboStore has announced plans to manufacture its own commercial robots. The company is opening a 66,000-square-foot facility on Long Island, New York, and has launched a new entity, Robo Inc., to oversee manufacturing and systems integration by the first fiscal quarter of 2027.