Xiaomi has deployed prototype humanoid robots in its electric vehicle factory as part of early-stage trials, company President Lu Weibing said during an interview at the Mobile World Congress trade show in Barcelona, Spain.
According to Lu, two of Xiaomi's self-developed humanoid robots were tested on the production line and together were able to complete 90% of the work assigned to them within a three-hour period. The tasks the machines handled included installing nuts and moving materials, functions Lu cited as examples of what the robots can perform in a factory setting.
Maintaining the pace of automotive assembly - not the capability to perform individual tasks - was highlighted by Lu as the main obstacle to wider integration. He noted that at Xiaomi's car plant a finished vehicle rolls off the assembly line every 76 seconds. In the trials, the two humanoid robots were able to keep up with that cadence, demonstrating an ability to match the line's cycle time.
Lu framed the work as part of a broader focus for the company on having humanoid robots operate in factories to raise productivity. He suggested that over time such machines could replace humans for specific duties and take on jobs that are difficult or impossible for human workers to do. At the same time, he emphasized that the current deployments are still experimental rather than formal production roles.
Xiaomi first unveiled its CyberOne humanoid robot in 2022; Lu reiterated that the product is not offered for sale at present. He described the robots on the production lines as being at an early stage of use - akin to interns rather than official employees assigned to permanent jobs.
Context and implications
The company is testing whether humanoid robots can both perform specific assembly tasks and sustain the continuous, rapid pace required in automotive manufacturing. While the trials showed the units could carry out a high percentage of assigned tasks and match the plant's 76-second throughput, Xiaomi characterizes the effort as exploratory and limited in scope for now.
What remains unresolved
The trials demonstrate capability under test conditions but do not indicate a timeline for broader deployment, commercial availability, or how these units would be integrated into regular production roles. Xiaomi noted the work is early-stage and that the robots in the lines are not performing official jobs.