Xiaomi is putting humanoid robots to work on its EV production lines, and the company's president says they're performing like promising interns. In an interview with CNBC, Xiaomi President Lu Weibing revealed that two humanoid robots can complete 90% of assigned work in just three hours—a striking benchmark as manufacturers race to automate increasingly complex assembly tasks. The deployment marks another step in China's aggressive push to dominate both electric vehicles and robotics, two sectors where the country is betting billions.
Xiaomi is quietly turning its electric vehicle factory into a testing ground for humanoid robots, and the early results suggest the machines are learning fast. The Chinese electronics giant has deployed humanoid robots on its EV production lines, where they're tackling manufacturing tasks that typically require human dexterity and judgment.
The performance metrics are eye-catching. Two humanoid robots can complete 90% of their assigned work in just three hours, according to Xiaomi President Lu Weibing, who shared the update in an interview with CNBC. That's a remarkably high completion rate for machines that are essentially learning on the job—which is exactly how Xiaomi's leadership sees them. Lu described the robots as being like "interns," a telling analogy that suggests they're capable but still developing their skills.
The comparison to human workers isn't just colorful language. It signals how Xiaomi is thinking about integrating humanoid robots into complex manufacturing environments. Unlike fixed industrial robots that repeat the same motions endlessly, humanoid robots are designed to navigate spaces built for people, use tools designed for human hands, and adapt to varied tasks. That flexibility comes with a learning curve, but Xiaomi's data suggests the curve is steep in the right direction.
Xiaomi entered the EV market in 2024 with its SU7 sedan, joining a brutally competitive landscape where more than 100 electric vehicle brands are fighting for market share in China. The company has been leveraging its consumer electronics expertise—particularly in software and supply chain management—to carve out a position. Now it's adding robotics to that mix, potentially creating a manufacturing advantage as it scales production.
