Gasgoo Munich-On April 7, UBTECH's smart logistics subsidiary UQI signed a strategic partnership agreement with Honda Trading (China). The deal focuses on joint research, scenario validation, and business model exploration for automated solutions — specifically humanoid robots and autonomous logistics vehicles.The agreement marks another significant step for UBTECH in expanding its industrial footprint, following its earlier mass-production partnership with Siemens.UBTECH is moving its embodied intelligence technology from the lab to the factory floor at a rapid pace. Honda Trading, a wholly-owned global distribution arm of the Honda Group, has operated in China for over three decades. Its deep roots in the automotive manufacturing supply chain could prove pivotal as UBTECH seeks to scale up its industrial presence.Breaking into the Auto Supply Chain: UBTECH Accelerates Industrial AdoptionUBTECH's recent expansion has been rapid.Just days ago, UBTECH released its full-year 2025 results. Total revenue climbed to 2.001 billion yuan — a 53.3% year-on-year increase. The company's full-size embodied intelligent humanoid robot business saw rapid growth, generating 820 million yuan in revenue, a more than 20-fold rise. With sales of 1,079 units and a gross margin of 54.6%, the division has become UBTECH's largest revenue driver, accounting for 41.1% of the total.Building on that progress, UBTECH CEO Zhou Jian offered guidance at the earnings call that was both conservative and ambitious. He projects 5,000 humanoid robot shipments for 2026 — a 400% increase from 2025 levels.By delivery volume, UBTECH has become the first company globally to deliver industrial humanoid robots in the thousands.To date, more than 1,000 full-size units have been delivered and revenue recognized — over 80% of which have entered industrial settings.In the automotive sector, UBTECH's Walker S series robots are already being tested and deployed on assembly lines at new energy vehicle plants including BYD, Dongfeng Liuzhou Motor, and Geely, building a track record of practical experience.The partnership with Honda Trading is another strategic move for UBTECH as it expands further into automotive and manufacturing environments.Image Source: UBTECHHonda Trading (China) serves as the China headquarters for Honda Trading Co., Ltd. A wholly-owned subsidiary of the global automaker Honda Group, Honda Trading operates 56 branches across 19 countries and regions, handling the global trade of raw materials, components, equipment, and technology related to vehicle production.Under the agreement, the two parties will explore applications for embodied intelligent humanoid robots and autonomous logistics vehicles in industrial manufacturing and warehousing. Once conditions allow, they plan to launch pilot projects within Honda Trading's supply chain and replicate successful models, jointly driving the practical adoption of embodied intelligence in industry.This model signals that UBTECH is shifting focus from one-off product deliveries. Instead, it aims to embed its embodied intelligent solutions into the broader manufacturing supply chain network by building collaborations with industrial giants.Honda Trading's Evolving Role: From Parts Trading to Smart SolutionsHonda Trading plays a distinct role within the Honda Group ecosystem.Long an established presence in the automotive and related industrial supply chains, Honda Trading leverages the automaker's deep global footprint. It brings an established foundation and extensive experience in integrating materials, components, equipment, and industrial resources, as well as in coordinating supply chains across manufacturing systems.The strategic partnership with UBTECH marks a further expansion into smart technologies for Honda Trading. Its role is shifting from a traditional "trading intermediary" to an "industrial solutions enabler."Honda Trading's unique value lies in its function as a "connector." Backed by the Honda Group, it has a deep understanding of the challenges and needs across the entire vehicle manufacturing process. At the same time, its global supply chain network offers UBTECH's technology a range of application scenarios and pathways to market.For UBTECH, this is more than just an opportunity for scenario validation; it represents a potential gateway into the global automotive supply chain.From UBTECH's perspective, the partnership with Honda Trading continues its strategy of "partnering with major industry players."As a key player in Japan's automotive industry, Honda Trading's involvement completes UBTECH's global partnership map, now covering the most representative manufacturing forces in Europe, the Americas, and Asia.The industrialization of humanoid robots is entering a critical phase. For automotive manufacturing, the collaboration between humanoid robots and autonomous logistics vehicles could improve the efficiency limits of production and logistics. The UBTECH-Honda Trading partnership marks the start of a strategic alignment — and serves as an indicator of the broader shift toward smart technologies in the automotive supply chain.
