Xiaomi puts humanoid robots to work in its car factory: from interns to operators

The leap from robot interns to plant operators

In March 2025, Xiaomi revealed that its humanoid robots were interning at the car factory, placing self-tapping nuts on vehicle floor parts. At that time, the success rate was 90.2% over three hours of continuous operation. Now, according to CEO Lei Jun, the robots have substantially improved: they work full eight-hour shifts and achieve 99% accuracy, comparable to a human operator.

This advance is not trivial. The task of placing nuts may seem simple, but it involves hand-eye (or camera-arm) coordination, depth perception, and force adjustment. That a humanoid robot can do this with such reliability in a real production environment is a technical milestone. According to Xataka, the system picks up nuts from an automatic supply unit and deposits them in the indicated location, where automatic screwing is later performed. In March, the robots failed in about 10% of insertions, but now that margin has been reduced to 1%, a level that competes with experienced human operators in repetitive tasks.

Why is this important?

The news transcends Xiaomi. The Chinese company not only manufactures smartphones and cars but has also been developing humanoid robots since 2021 with the CyberOne. Now it demonstrates that these robots can be integrated into real assembly lines, opening the door to mass adoption in other industries. This achievement adds to the global trend of humanoids in manufacturing: Tesla has already shown its Optimus robot performing tasks in its factories, though with less public detail on success rates. The key difference is that Xiaomi has shared concrete metrics, providing transparency and credibility to its progress.

According to a Morgan Stanley report cited by Xataka, forecasts for humanoid robot shipments have doubled for 2026, indicating growing market interest. Xiaomi positions itself as a key player, competing with Tesla and its Optimus, though with a more immediate focus on its own manufacturing. Additionally, the company has indicated it plans to sell these robots to other companies, which could accelerate adoption in sectors such as logistics or electronics. This move recalls Boston Dynamics' strategy, which went from prototypes to commercial robots, but Xiaomi bets on a vertical integration model: first using them internally and then commercializing them.

The historical context is also relevant. Industrial automation has evolved from Unimate's robotic arms in the 1960s to Universal Robots' collaborative cobots in the 2010s. However, humanoids represent a qualitative leap: their bipedal form and articulated arms allow them to operate in environments designed for humans, without needing to redesign factories. This lowers the adoption barrier, as noted by an analysis from The Vortiq: "Humanoid robots are no longer just prototypes: they are working side by side with humans in real factories."

Consequences for industry and workers

The impact is twofold. On one hand, automation with humanoids can increase productivity and reduce errors in repetitive tasks. On the other, it generates uncertainty about the future of factory employment. However, experts point out that these robots are designed to complement humans, not replace them, taking on dangerous or monotonous jobs. In Xiaomi's case, the robots perform tasks that involve ergonomic risks or repetitive strain injuries. According to ILO data, in 2023 there were over 2 million occupational diseases related to musculoskeletal disorders in manufacturing, a problem humanoids could mitigate.

Xiaomi plans to expand the use of its robots to other areas of the plant, such as quality inspection and material handling. The company has also indicated it will sell these robots to other companies, which could accelerate adoption in sectors like logistics or electronics. However, the current cost of humanoids remains high. Although Xiaomi has not disclosed prices, analysts estimate that a robot like the CyberOne could cost between $50,000 and $100,000, limiting adoption to large corporations. In comparison, traditional collaborative robots cost between $20,000 and $50,000 but require modifications to the production line.

The labor impact is uncertain. A 2024 McKinsey study estimated that by 2030, automation could displace up to 20 million manufacturing workers globally, but also create 15 million new jobs in robot maintenance, programming, and supervision. In Xiaomi's case, the company has stated that robots have not replaced workers but have filled hard-to-fill vacancies. In China, labor shortages in factories are a growing problem: according to the National Bureau of Statistics, the working-age population (16-59 years) decreased by 11 million between 2022 and 2024. Humanoids could be a solution to maintain production without relying on labor migration.

Comparison with past events is useful. In 2019, Tesla began using robots at its Fremont factory but faced over-automation issues that delayed Model 3 production. Elon Musk admitted that "excessive automation was a mistake." Xiaomi seems to have learned from those mistakes, implementing humanoids gradually and in specific tasks. Moreover, unlike Tesla, which develops robots for internal use, Xiaomi plans to sell them, potentially creating a new B2B market. This approach resembles that of companies like ABB or Fanuc, which dominate industrial robotics, but humanoids add a differentiating factor.

In summary, Xiaomi's advance marks a before and after in the integration of humanoids into real manufacturing. With solid metrics and a clear expansion plan, the company positions itself as a leader in a market poised for exponential growth. The coming years will be crucial to determine whether this technology becomes standard or faces barriers of cost and social acceptance.

What readers should know

• Xiaomi's humanoid robots now operate full-time in its car factory, with 8-hour shifts and a 99% success rate.
• The current task is nut placement, but they are expected to take on more complex functions like quality inspection and material handling.
• This advance positions Xiaomi as a direct competitor to Tesla in the humanoid robot market, with more transparent metrics.
• Automation with humanoids could transform manufacturing, though the labor impact is still uncertain; they are expected to complement humans rather than replace them.
• Xiaomi plans to sell these robots to other companies, which would accelerate adoption in sectors like logistics and electronics.

"Humanoid robots are no longer just prototypes: they are working side by side with humans in real factories," notes an analysis from The Vortiq.