Xiaomi has begun trialing humanoid robots in its electric vehicle factories to boost productivity, according to president Lu Weibing.

The two robots can complete 90% of tasks like installing nuts and moving materials in three hours, keeping pace with the factory’s rapid assembly line.

Lu described the robots as early-stage “interns” but said the goal is for them to eventually replace humans for certain tasks and handle work beyond human capability.

The move reflects broader trends in China, where firms like XPeng and Honor are also developing humanoid robots, with analysts forecasting China could dominate a $9 trillion global market by 2050, CNBC has reported.

Internationally, Elon Musk is similarly pivoting Tesla toward robotics, planning to convert its Fremont factory to produce Optimus humanoid robots.