The business of physical AI.
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See also on the DEPLOY registry: Verified humanoid companiesMost-funded humanoid companiesFigure vs ApptronikFigure vs Tesla Optimus
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Source: The Robot Report
UK-based Humanoid has signed a binding phased deployment and supply agreement with Schaeffler to put its HMND robots into two German factory sites starting December 2026, targeting a four-digit unit count across Schaeffler's global facilities by 2032. The company also partnered with Bosch for manufacturing and distribution in Europe, and separately with Siemens.
Source: TechTimes
Independent market analyst IDTechEx, in a report published May 19, calculated that under high-utilization industrial conditions the payback period for a humanoid robot can already fall to approximately six months in 2026, based on current hardware prices and observed deployment data. The firm also projects operating costs could fall below $5 per hour by 2030, making humanoids cost-competitive with human labor in high-wage manufacturing markets.
Source: AI Insider
Beijing-based Robotera raised more than $200M in a round led by SF Group, following a separate $143M strategic financing in March, with investors including HSG, IDG Capital, Hillhouse, and CICC Capital. The company says its humanoid robots are now operating in more than 10 logistics centers through partnerships with China Post and SF Group, and it began thousand-unit deliveries in Q2 2026 with growth exceeding 300%.