$138M Raised with BAIC as Anchor Investor — Why an Automaker Is Betting on Humanoid Robots
Robotera has secured a ¥980 million ($138 million) Series A+ round, marking a significant milestone in the commercialization of embodied AI.
The round was co-led by strategic and financial investors, including:
- BAIC Capital (strategic investor, investment arm of Beijing Automotive Group)
- Geely Capital
- Beijing Artificial Intelligence Industry Investment Fund
- Beijing Robotics Industry Development Investment Fund
- Multiple international industrial capital firms
This funding will accelerate the development and deployment of Robotera’s end-to-end Vision-Language-Action (VLA) embodied AI model, ERA-42, and expand its commercial footprint across logistics, manufacturing, and service sectors.
The Significance of BAIC’s Involvement: Beyond Capital, It’s Strategy
BAIC Capital’s participation is not merely a financial move.
It reflects a strategic pivot within the global automotive industry:
Humanoid robotics is no longer a futuristic concept — it is a core component of next-generation smart factories and mobility ecosystems.
As a major Chinese automaker investing in multiple robotics companies — including Agibot, Galaxy General, Pasini, Pudu Robotics, and Moore Threads — BAIC is building a diversified portfolio across the embodied AI stack.
Its investment in Robotera specifically targets:
- Factory automation: Integration of humanoids into EV production lines for tasks like part handling, quality inspection, and material transport
- Supply chain resilience: Addressing labor shortages in high-mix, low-volume manufacturing environments
- Technology synergy: Leveraging shared AI infrastructure between autonomous driving and embodied intelligence
This positions BAIC at the intersection of two transformative trends: electrification and embodied AI.
Technical Core: ERA-42 — A Unified Model for Full-Body Control
Robotera’s key technical differentiator is ERA-42, a proprietary VLA model that enables:
- End-to-end control of high-DOF humanoid robots (55+ degrees of freedom)
- Precise manipulation using five-finger dexterous hands
- Real-time task execution via voice command only — no pre-programming required
This makes Robotera one of the few companies globally capable of controlling an entire humanoid body with a single neural network, without modular subsystems.
The model has been deployed in real-world settings across three primary domains:
| Sector | Application | Performance |
|---|---|---|
| Logistics | Parcel sorting, barcode scanning, pharmaceutical handling | Standardized, repeatable workflows; largest single order valued near$7 million USD |
| Manufacturing | Component picking, precision assembly, quality inspection | Efficiency up to 70% of human baseline in controlled trials |
| Commercial Services | Store cleaning, item delivery, beverage service, guided tours | Deployed in retail and hospitality environments |
Unlike simulation-heavy approaches, Robotera emphasizes real-world data collection, creating a feedback loop where field performance improves the model, which in turn enhances future deployments.
Commercial Scale: Over $500 Million in Orders, Half from Overseas
Since inception, Robotera has accumulated over ¥3.6 billion ($500 million) in total orders, signaling strong demand across industries.
Key clients include:
- Automotive: Geely, Renault
- Logistics: SF Express (Shunfeng)
- Electronics: TCL
- Home Appliances & IT: Haier, Lenovo
- Real Estate & Hospitality: Century Golden Resources
Notably:
- Overseas revenue accounts for ~50% of total business
- Clients span North America, Europe, Middle East, Japan, South Korea
- 9 out of the world’s top 10 tech companies by market cap are customers or partners
- Leading research institutions using Robotera platforms include MIT, Stanford, Tsinghua University, Peking University, SKILD AI
This global reach demonstrates both technical credibility and cross-market adaptability.
⚙️ Product Portfolio: Three Lines, One Platform
Robotera operates across three product lines, all built on its unified AI and hardware stack:
- STAR Series – Full-size bipedal humanoids
- Used in logistics and manufacturing
- Achieved record-breaking performance at the World Humanoid Robot Games (high jump champion, long jump world record)
- L7 Series – High-performance full-body platform
- Functions as parts feeder, sorter, assembler, and mover
- Designed for dynamic environments requiring agility and strength
- Dexterous Hand – Five-finger, fully direct-drive hand
- Capable of manipulating over 100 tools
- Adopted by leading humanoid manufacturers and top-tier research labs globally
- Optimized for reinforcement learning workflows
Hardware self-research and development exceeds 95%, covering:
- Joint modules
- Motors
- Gearboxes (reduction gears)
- Controllers
- Tactile sensing systems
This vertical integration ensures supply chain stability and enables rapid iteration.
Business Model: Domestic Depth, Global Reach
Robotera employs a dual-market strategy:
- Domestic (China): Focus on industry-specific solutions for logistics, manufacturing, and services
- International: Target developers and research institutions through open tools and APIs
The company provides comprehensive developer kits and software tools, enabling third parties to build applications on its platform — reinforcing its role as a foundational player in the embodied AI ecosystem.
Investment Takeaway: This Is Not Just Another Robotics Startup
Robotera stands apart due to:
- Proven commercial traction: $500M+ in orders, 50% overseas, real deployments
- Technical differentiation: Single-model control of full-body, high-DOF humanoids
- Strategic investor alignment: Backed by auto OEMs preparing for AI-driven factories
- Vertical integration: >95% hardware self-developed, reducing dependency on external suppliers
- Global client base: From Fortune 500 firms to elite universities
While many humanoid robotics companies remain in the prototype phase, Robotera is delivering production-grade systems at scale.
The entry of BAIC as a strategic investor underscores a broader trend:
The future of intelligent manufacturing will be shaped not just by better cars — but by smarter robots working alongside them.
For investors, this round is not about speculative technology.
It is about industrial transformation already underway.
