As a new wave of Chinese firms captures global demand for hi-tech goods, a new report highlights a strategic shift towards AI hardware and robotics
2-MIN READ2-MIN ListenXinyi Wuin BeijingPublished: 8:00pm, 12 Aug 2026Chinese corporate expansion overseas is shifting from solar equipment to artificial intelligence-enabled industrial technology, with a new generation of companies targeting global markets from inception, according to analysts at Goldman Sachs.
“China has entered the ‘Go Global 3.0’ era,” wrote the investment bank’s team, led by Jacqueline Du, in a research note published on Tuesday.
The analysts said overseas demand was largely driven by global supply shortages outside China, which created an immediate need for Chinese suppliers, as well as products benefiting from new technology adoption cycles.
These humanoid robotics firms were helping create entirely new demand pools, according to the report, with Unitree establishing a global market lead.
The Hangzhou-based manufacturer shipped over 5,500 humanoid robots last year, far above three of its US rivals: Tesla, Figure AI and Agility Robotics. Each of those companies delivered about 150 units, according to data from technology research firm Omdia cited in the Goldman Sachs report.
