Humanoid robots represent the next frontier for Pudu Robotics, according to founder and CEO Felix Zhang Tao, as the global commercial robotics leader takes on Elon Musk’s Tesla in the growing sector and explores manufacturing in Europe, its largest overseas market.
“It’s definitely a competitor, but a long-term one,” Zhang told the South China Morning Post in a recent interview, adding that Tesla was a “very good” rival whose high profile had driven innovation and broadened market awareness in robotics.
The Shenzhen-based company – ranked first globally in shipments and revenues for commercial service robots in 2025 by consultancy Frost & Sullivan – built its business on specialised machines that sweep hotel floors, bus restaurant dishes and move heavy goods in factories.