Most people know BYD through the electrified vehicles that established its place in the automotive market. However, beyond vehicles, the Chinese firm is also setting its sights on an up-and-coming industry: humanoid robots.
In an interview with Business Insider, BYD executive vice president Stella Li shared initial details on the company’s plans for humanoid robots—including their deployment in BYD dealerships.
“My goal is to bring two or three robots to every single store,” said Li. “They can explain to the customer, they can have fun, they can even show the car, demonstrate the car.”
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She also predicted that within “one or two years,” the technology required for robot sales staff would become mature enough for real-world use. It is expected that BYD’s humanoid robots will compete against the Optimus models of American rival Tesla.
However, Li clarifies that the company’s upcoming robots are not meant to replace human involvement and “emotional connection” on the sales floor: “We still need the people, but now with robotics, we can make our service better.”
BYD currently uses robots such as humanoid models and autonomous vehicles from fellow Chinese company UBTech in its factories to augment its workforce. These autonomous workers handle tasks such as sorting items and transporting inventory around BYD’s facility.
Watch: Robot workers in action in a BYD factory
The ultimate goal of BYD’s investments in industrial robots is the creation of “dark factories”—manufacturing and assembly plants run entirely by robots with no human intervention.
The humanoid robot market was valued at around $3 billion last year, but is projected to balloon to around $28 billion by 2030, per Morgan Stanley data. Other car brands such as Hyundai and XPeng are also looking to break into this market.
Would you welcome the idea of a robot pitching you ideas for your next car? Or is this way too deep into the uncanny valley? Let us know how you feel in the comments.
