China opens its first 7S humanoid robot store: A new era in robotics

A humanoid robot on display, highlighting China’s rapid advancements in embodied artificial intelligence and next-generation robotics. Two 1.3m-tall humanoid robots in a storefront in Wuhan, capital city of central China’s Hubei Province, sprang to life, twisting and turning in perfect sync to a rhythmic beat. The conclusion of their dance coincided with the country’s first 7S humanoid robot store officially opening for its daily business.

Much like the automotive 4S shops, this novel concept aims to be a one-stop hub. But instead of cars, it focuses on humanoid robots. The 7S model builds on the traditional automobile 4S concept, namely sales, service, spare parts and surveys, by adding solution, show and school functions, thereby covering the entire industrial chain from components and whole machines to scenario-based applications.

Since opening in November last year, this store in Wuhan, run by Hubei Humanoid Robot Innovation Centre, has become a landmark of a shopping mall in the Wuhan East Lake High-Tech Development Zone, also known as the Optics Valley of China, a tech hub in Hubei. China’s humanoid robot industry saw significant growth throughout 2025, backed by national and local government mid-to-long-term plans targeting it as a strategic sector. The 7S store represents a pioneering step in exploring viable commercial models and market acceptance for this transformative technology.

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Inside the bustling store, robots of various sizes and shapes demonstrate their capabilities: some play soccer, others serve as retail assistants, while another group plays musical instruments. “We have 17 different models of humanoid robots here, priced from 149 yuan to 700 000 yuan. They can be deployed in over 10 scenarios, including industrial manufacturing, cultural tourism guidance, elderly care and special operations,” said Hu.

China has intensified its efforts to foster future industries like embodied AI, as outlined in the proposals for the formulation of the country’s 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-2030). The goal is to cultivate new economic growth engines through technological innovation and market exploration. A think tank report forecasts that by 2045, China will have over 100 million humanoid robots deployed across industries, creating a total market value of approximately 10 trillion yuan.

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