BYD’s humanoid robots could include technology similar to that in its cars. It’s possible the car manufacturer could work alongside existing robot firms. Last year, rival brand Chery unveiled its own advanced humanoid robot. The man who once couldn’t stop laughing at BYD probably isn’t laughing now. Back in 2011, Elon Musk dismissed the Chinese company outright when asked about it. These days BYD outsells Tesla over the course of a year and ranks among the largest carmakers on the planet, and like the brand it has overtaken, it now wants a piece of the world beyond cars. Earlier this week, BYD executive vice president Li Ke revealed that the company is developing its own humanoid robots, noting that they will share common technologies with the brand’s cars. In addition, they could also be sold through BYD’s existing dealership network, not only in China, but also in other markets. Read: BMW’s New Humanoid Workers Never Take A Break Or Get Paid BYD hasn’t stated when its own humanoid robots could be ready to hit the market, nor has it said how it will develop and manufacture them. It’s possible they could be brought to life through an open platform where BYD works alongside established robotics companies, according to CarNewsChina. This would likely slash development times by relying on firms with extensive experience in this space. China’s Robotic Future While it’s Tesla that generates plenty of headlines for its humanoid robot, dozens of Chinese technology companies have already developed robots seemingly far more advanced than what Musk’s company has done. Earlier this year, more than 100 humanoid robots from different companies participated in a half-marathon in China. The winning robot, created by smartphone manufacturer Honor, needed just 50 minutes and 26 seconds to complete the half-marathon, almost seven full minutes quicker than the fastest half-marathon ever run by a human. BYD isn’t the first Chinese brand to venture into the world of humanoid robots, either. Last year, Chery unveiled its own feminine humanoid robot, the Mornine M1, built by the company’s AiMoga subsidiary. Complete with long blonde hair, fake breasts, and a BBL, it’s a bizarre-looking creation that went on sale last month. It’s not cheap, however, starting at 285,800 yuan, or more than $41,000. Chery’s Mornine M1 | Lead image Xpeng