In this new global landscape, United States, Europe and China They are accelerating in parallel. Startups like Apptronik, Figure, 1X, and Agility are raising historic funding rounds; Tesla is trying to place Optimus Prime at the heart of its strategy; and industrial groups like Schaeffler are positioning themselves in Europe as critical suppliers of actuators and components for the humanoids of the future. Meanwhile, China is showcasing models like the Lingxi X2, capable of executing complex kung fu movements with a precision that seemed like science fiction just a few years ago.
Apptronik and Alphabet and NASA's bet on humanoids
One of the names that is making the most noise in the industry is Apptronik, a Austin-based humanoid robotics startup, which emerged from the Human-Centered Robotics Laboratory at the University of Texas. After nearly a decade of work and the development of some fifteen previous robots—including NASA's Valkyrie—the company has made its Apollo model the cornerstone of its roadmap.
Apptronik has closed an extension of its Series A funding round, raising total funding to 935 millionwith a potential valuation of around $5.300 billion. The deal has been backed by existing investors such as Alphabet (Google's parent company), Mercedes-Benz, Peak6, and B Capital, and by new participants such as AT&T Ventures, John Deere, and the sovereign wealth fund Qatar Investment Authority, which strengthens the Big capital's confidence in humanoid robotics.
The connection with Alphabet goes beyond capital. Apptronik maintains a strategic alliance with Google DeepMind to develop the next generation of humanoids powered by Gemini Robotics, an effort that seeks to equip Apollo and its successors with advanced perception, planning and manipulation capabilities in real-world environments.
With the new resources, the company wants to accelerate the Apollo production and the expansion of its commercial pilots worldwide, prioritizing sectors such as retail, manufacturing, and logistics. The plan includes the creation of dedicated facilities for robot training and data collection, a key step in refining AI models that will allow humanoids to work side-by-side with people.
Apptronik's vision involves robots designed for collaborate safely and intelligently with humans in repetitive or physically demanding tasks, with an eye also on healthcare, domestic environments and other services. The company maintains that its next generation of humanoids, planned for 2026, will rely on this human-centered approach and a target cost below the price of a car, opening the door to a mass market.
Tesla Optimus and the ambition of mass production
While startups are fine-tuning their prototypes, Tesla has decided that its robot Optimus is one of the pillars of their long-term strategyThe android, which has already been seen at internal events serving drinks, performing cleaning tasks, or executing dance moves, still relies in part on remote control, but the company insists it is moving towards greater autonomy.
Elon Musk has placed Optimus as strategic priority within Tesla. In a recent call with investors, he announced the start of large-scale production and explained that this year will be especially intensive in capital investment to adapt assembly lines and convert part of the vehicle facilities into a factory dedicated to the humanoid robot.
Musk's stated objective is to achieve an annual production of around one million Optimus In the long term. Beyond the initial rollout at Tesla's own plants, the executive maintains that the android could become the company's most valuable product and end up representing the majority of its stock market value.
In Tesla's public discourse, humanoid robots are not limited to improving industrial productivity. Musk has even suggested that mass adoption of robots like Optimus could reconfigure the labor market and reduce povertyreplacing difficult or undesirable tasks. However, these kinds of statements coexist with the current reality: prototypes in the testing phase that still need to demonstrate their reliability in real-world environments and their economic viability.
Figure, 1X, Agility and Boston Dynamics: the American ecosystem
Beyond Tesla and Apptronik, the US humanoid landscape is populated by a growing number of startups with diverse approaches. One of those that has attracted the most capital is... AI figures, which in a Series C round exceeded $1.000 billion, reaching a valuation of $39.000 billion, well above its size in previous months.
Figure works on general-purpose humanoids and argues that this type of robot will be the ideal vehicle for deploying artificial general intelligence (AGI) when this becomes a reality. Their Figure 03 model is geared towards housework such as washing clothes, cleaning or washing dishes, and the company insists that, in a few years, androids will be able to do useful jobs on a daily basis.
Another key piece of the puzzle is 1X, a company with Norwegian and American roots that has backed by investors such as OpenAI, EQT, and Samsung NextIts product range is structured into two lines: Neo, designed for home use, and Eve, geared towards industrial applications. Neo will be offered in the United States starting in 2026 at a price of around $20.000 or via monthly subscription, although initially users will have to accept that the robot will be remotely controlled by 1X technicians during training.
The company's discourse focuses on the safe coexistence between humans and robotsIts CEO emphasizes that one of the differentiating elements of its models is the ability to operate safely near people, which would open the door to consumer markets and new domestic and care services.
In the purely industrial sphere, Agility has become a benchmark by successfully transforming its humanoid Digit into one of the first robots of its kind to perform paid workIn collaboration with GXO Logistics, the company has deployed units at Spanx facilities, where they move boxes and place them on conveyor belts, having already handled over 100.000 units. The robot is also being tested with groups like Schaeffler and Amazon, reinforcing its role as a pioneer in logistics tasks.
Waves of global funding: from the United States to Europe
The rise of humanoids cannot be understood without the financial context. Investment banks like Goldman Sachs predict that the The global humanoid robot market could reach nearly $38.000 billion by 2035., a forecast that has spurred the appetite of venture capital funds and large corporations.
Besides Apptronik and Figure, several other players are vying for positions in this new wave. The Norwegian-American company 1X Technologies is planning a new funding round that aims to... to raise in the order of 1.000 billion dollarswith a potential valuation of close to 10.000 billion. Meanwhile, other companies specializing in robotics and automation, such as Serve Robotics, Symbotic, and Richtech Robotics, have experienced a turbulent year on the stock market, with sharp price fluctuations as investors weigh risks and expectations.
Europe is not left out either. Germany Neura Robotics It is finalizing a funding round of approximately $1.200 billion, which would place its valuation between $8.000 billion and $10.000 billion. Its plans are ambitious: to manufacture up to five million robots by 2030, starting with industrial applications and then expanding to the consumer market. Meanwhile, the company is exploring the participation of players like Tether, demonstrating that the crypto-financial ecosystem is also observing this sector with interest.
This flow of capital is generating an ecosystem where various factors converge technology companies, automotive manufacturers, sovereign wealth funds, and component suppliersIn Europe, this latter segment is gaining its own weight thanks to companies with a long industrial history that are transferring their experience in actuators, motors and gearboxes to the field of humanoids.
Schaeffler: European actuators for the next generation of humanoids
One of the groups that best illustrates the role of European industry is Schaeffler. With decades of experience in mechanical components for the automotive and industrial sectors, the company has set out to become leading manufacturer of actuators for humanoid robots, a key component for providing androids with precise and efficient movements.
The company emphasizes that, on average, a humanoid requires across 25 and 30 actuators for articulating shoulders, knees, hips, and other upper joints. Their solutions allow for smooth feedback—that is, the ability to move the drive in the opposite direction—and virtually zero backlash, which translates into very fine movements, low friction and high precisionAll of this is crucial for robots to be able to handle objects delicately and maintain their balance even in the face of external disturbances.
Schaeffler manufactures all the main components of these actuators in-house, utilizing winding, surface mounting, machining, assembly, and testing technologies. vertical integration It allows them to guarantee quality, adjust costs and scale production quickly, a fundamental aspect if the humanoids end up being manufactured in the hundreds of thousands of units.
The German group also offers scalable linear and rotary actuators covering nearly half of the components needed in a modern humanoid robot. With a portfolio spanning eight dedicated product families, the company adapts solutions derived from the automotive and industrial sectors to meet the specific needs of robot manufacturers.
As part of its own transformation strategy, Schaeffler not only sells these actuators, but also deploys humanoid robots within its own value chainIn fact, it plans to integrate several hundred humanoid robots into its global production network within five years, aiming to increase automation and improve process efficiency. This direct end-user experience allows it to gather operational data and continuously refine the design of its drive solutions.
European alliance: Schaeffler and Humanoid to validate robots in real factories
In Europe, collaboration between component manufacturers and robot developers is beginning to solidify into concrete agreements. One example is the alliance between Schaeffler and the company Humanoid, which aims to deploy humanoids in large-scale industrial environments and use the data obtained to train AI models and improve the performance of the robots.
The central idea of this agreement is that humanoids cease to be laboratory projects or mere demonstrations and undergo the ultimate test: working day after day on European production lines. Humanoid argues that the future of the sector will not be defined by the most eye-catching videos, but by the ability to scale the technology to large volumes and operate reliably and safely in real factories.
The joint deployment will allow to validate the mechanical robustness of the actuators, the precision of the movements, and the safe interaction with people In demanding environments, this is especially relevant for European industry, which seeks to increase its productivity without further offshoring of production. In turn, the collected data will feed AI systems capable of planning tasks, optimizing routes, and anticipating failures.
Schaeffler's management insists that humanoid robots represent the ultimate expression of movement and precision And the experience accumulated in high-volume manufacturing allows them to offer components ready for integration into large-scale assembly lines. For Humanoid, this collaboration means access to advanced actuator technology and a world-class industrial testbed in Europe.
China accelerates with Lingxi X2: kung fu, gymnastics and advanced coordination
While the United States and Europe focus on industrialization and trade expansion, China is moving forward with an approach that combines spectacular demonstrations and accelerated technological developmentOne of the most striking cases is Lingxi X2, a humanoid robot developed by Agibot, which has attracted attention for its ability to perform kung fu movements and complex acrobatics.
In a recent demonstration, Agibot took its humanoid to the historic Shaolin TempleA symbol of Chinese martial arts, the robot performed kung fu routines with a balance and speed that astonished the audience. Images shared on social media showed several humanoid robots. coordinating their movements with unusual precision, which generated mixed reactions ranging from fascination to a certain unease.
Lingxi X2 has been training since its unveiling as a general-purpose robot in 2025 and has starred in other viral videos, including one in which it performs a Webster Flip, a highly difficult forward somersault which requires very precise control of the center of gravity and the airborne phase. These types of tests serve to demonstrate the robot's ability to manage dynamic forces and regain balance in extreme situations.
Beyond the spectacle, Agibot highlights the role of its AI model Genie Operator-1, known as Go-1, as humanoid “brain”This system allows Lingxi X2 to recognize objects and perform basic tasks without prior specific training, from classifying packages by size to remembering and repeating everyday routes, such as the journey between two work points.
The company claims that its robots can coordinate with each other and understand human movement Using current and archived images, they would be able to mimic complex gestures and adapt to changing environments. Although many of these capabilities are still in the validation phase, the Chinese strategy clearly aims to position itself as a leader in general-purpose humanoids with high levels of mobility and dexterity.
Amidst a flood of investment, bets from tech giants, and the industrial boom in Europe and Asia, humanoid robots are advancing rapidly from the laboratory to the factory, logistics, and, eventually, the home. The combination of massive capital, advances in AI, new precision actuators, and pilot projects in real-world environments It is shaping a global market in which Tesla, Apptronik, Figure, 1X, Agility, Boston Dynamics, Schaeffler, Neura Robotics, and Agibot are all vying for position. The outcome is still uncertain, but all indications suggest that the next decade will be crucial in determining whether these androids will transition from technological curiosities to becoming commonplace work colleagues and part of the everyday landscape in Europe and the rest of the world.
