Chinese robot maker Unitree Robotics is officially opening its first brick-and-mortar store on New Year’s Eve. The Beijing store is stocked with humanoid robots and robot dogs, and will offer repair services.
Unitree has partnered with JD.com, China’s largest retailer, to open its first physical robot store. The outlet is currently in trial operation at JD Mall in Beijing’ Shuangjing area, according to Chinese media.
Staff are working to fine-tune robots on-site before the official opening on December 31st, the state-run Global Times reported. Customers will be able to interact, try, and purchase products in store.
A dedicated area in the store will be staffed by engineers who will demonstrate to visitors how robots can be used in different settings, including home cleaning, elderly care, and educational support, according to the Chinese tech outlet TechNode.
Unitree will sell its flagship products in the store, including G1 humanoid robots and Go2 quadruped robot dogs.
The move marks the first foray into physical retail for one of China’s leading robotics firms, as it seeks to bring its products into the mainstream by making them more accessible to consumers.
Unitree already sells its products online, including through JD.com’s e-commerce platform in China. Briefly, the company’s robots were also available for purchase in the US on Walmart’s website, but were quickly removed by the third-party reseller that listed them.
At the time, social media users expressed surprise that a Chinese-made humanoid robot was readily available for purchase on a major US retail platform, while American companies were still testing their own models.
Some estimates project the global humanoid robotics market will reach $9 trillion by 2050, with China accounting for more than 60% of the market.
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