Airbus to Use "Squatting" Chinese Robots to Build New Aircraft Following UBTech Deal

Aviation manufacturer Airbus (EADSY) has sealed a deal with Chinese firm UBTech to use its "squatting and lifting" humanoid robots to build new planes.Claim 50% Off TipRanks PremiumUnlock hedge fund-level data and powerful investing tools for smarter, sharper decisions Stay ahead of the market with the latest news and analysis and maximize your portfolio's potential Early Testing Stage UBTech said Airbus has bought its latest industrial humanoid robot, the Walker S2, and that the "two parties will jointly expand the application of humanoid robots in aerospace manufacturing scenarios in the future." Airbus said in a statement that the cooperation with UBTech was in the early concept-testing stage. The move follows a similar partnership UBTech formed last year with U.S. semiconductor maker Texas Instruments (TXN). It also purchased the Walker S2, and is currently reportedly deploying and debugging it for application on its production line. UBTech said that the Walker S2 has been specifically engineered for industrial tasks, with a height of 1.76m, 15kg payload capacity, human vision perception and 24/7 operation enabled by an autonomous battery-swapping system. It can also carry out deep squats and stoop lifting. The company also boasts a Panda robot, which can paint and greet people with a friendly smile at exhibitions and events. UBTech said total orders for its humanoid robots hit 1.4 billion yuan, about $200 million, in 2025, while production capacity for its industrial humanoid robots is expected to exceed 10,000 units in 2026. China Takes the Lead Humanoid robots are built and designed to look like and move like human beings. They are powered by AI algorithms and complex hardware like semiconductors. They could be used in a whole range of settings from the battlefield, to the factory floor, in hospital surgeries or dusting away the cobwebs in your living room. According to new data from Omdia, Chinese humanoid robot makers dominated the market in 2025, with five firms in the top 10.