UBTECH Penetrates European Retail Supply Chains
Chinese robotics manufacturer UBTECH has secured its first major European commercial deployment by integrating its full-size humanoid robots into the supply chain of continental retail giant ROSSMANN, signaling a critical transition from prototype testing to industrial scaling in Western markets.
The Shenzhen-based company signed an exclusive distribution and strategic partnership agreement with Terra Robotics for the DACH region, encompassing Germany, Switzerland, and Austria. Under the agreement, Terra Robotics has procured an initial batch of dozens of Walker S2 embodied AI humanoid robots, which are currently being deployed in ROSSMANN's regional logistics centers.
Market observers view the deployment as a primary stress test for Chinese humanoid robotics in heavily regulated European industrial environments. ROSSMANN, which operates across 10 countries with annual revenues exceeding €15 billion, will utilize the Walker S2 units for repetitive cargo handling and sorting tasks within dynamic warehouse settings.
Forging Local Alliances Mitigates Integration Risks
UBTECH's decision to utilize Terra Robotics as an exclusive DACH distributor underscores a strategic pivot toward localized ecosystem integration. Backed by Wortmann AG, a major European IT manufacturer, Terra Robotics provides the localized technical integration and service networks necessary to navigate European compliance frameworks. This localized approach allows the Chinese manufacturer to upgrade its export model from standalone hardware sales to integrated, scenario-based supply chain solutions.
The operational data and frontline feedback harvested from the ROSSMANN logistics pilot will directly inform product iteration, allowing UBTECH to align its embodied AI algorithms with the specific ergonomic and throughput requirements of the European retail sector.
Scaling Industrial Deployments Validates 2025 Revenue Surge
This European expansion builds upon UBTECH's aggressive domestic industrial rollout. In 2025, the company reported total revenues exceeding RMB 2 billion (US$289.8 million), positioning it at the forefront of the global humanoid robotics sector. Revenue specifically derived from full-size embodied AI humanoid robots—defined as non-remote-controlled units standing over 160 centimeters—reached RMB 820 million (US$118.8 million) on a sales volume of 1,079 units.
The company's commercialization strategy has heavily favored enterprise applications over consumer markets. Currently, over 80% of UBTECH's full-size humanoid robots are deployed in industrial scenarios, including automotive manufacturing, smart logistics, consumer electronics assembly, and semiconductor production. The ROSSMANN deployment serves as a strategic extension of this industrial focus, establishing a benchmark case for subsequent expansions into European manufacturing and retail logistics sectors.