Agibot, one of China’s fastest-growing robotics companies, is accelerating its European ambitions through an expanded partnership with automotive supplier Minth Group.
As global interest in humanoid and industrial robots intensifies, the company is positioning itself to become a key player in Europe’s push toward next-generation automation.
At a recent Munich showcase, Agibot presented a broad range of embodied AI platforms, including its compact X2 humanoid, designed for expressive, high-agility movement and customer-facing tasks. The X2 can perform dance routines and acrobatics and is already used in China’s events and hospitality sectors. The company also highlighted the A2 full-scale humanoid, engineered for multimodal interaction and autonomous navigation, as well as the G2 industrial series featuring precise dual-arm manipulation powered by Nvidia’s Jetson Thor T5000. The G2, currently priced at more than $117,000 (R1.9 million), serves applications such as force-controlled assembly and logistics-related operations.
Agibot’s rapid ascent stems from its scale and early commercialisation. Having entered mass production within just three years, the company has delivered over 5,000 humanoid robots, capturing around 40 percent of the global market as of early 2026. Industry analysts expect huge growth ahead: Morgan Stanley projects annual demand for humanoid robots could reach 1.5 million units by 2035, while Bain & Co. suggests an even larger long-term market. These forecasts underscore why Europe — home to major automotive manufacturers and advanced industrial ecosystems — has become a strategic frontier for embodied AI deployment.
Minth Group’s role is central to Agibot’s European integration. With more than ten production sites across Europe and 15 years of regional experience, Minth offers deep localisation expertise, established manufacturing systems and a wide industrial customer base. Under the partnership, Minth will provide both production capacity and real factory environments where Agibot’s robots can train on complex manufacturing tasks, collecting vital real-world data needed to refine AI models. Minth Chairwoman Chienglien Wei emphasised that successful large-scale robot deployment requires not only strong AI but also reliability, local operations support and robust industrial integration.
Agibot is targeting long-term partnerships rather than rapid sales, focusing on customisable platforms tailored to manufacturers’ needs. Its portfolio also includes the D1 quadruped robot for inspection scenarios and the Omnihand Pro, a dexterous robotic hand designed for high-precision component handling. Production of Agibot robots in Europe is expected to begin later this year, with large-scale shipments anticipated within two years as automakers and suppliers pilot humanoids for assembly, logistics and service operations.
Staff Writer
Reporting from the front lines of the automotive industry, delivering expert analysis and the technical updates that drive the South African motor sector forward.
