Analysis of the Impact of UBTECH Walker S2 Mass Production Acceleration and 587Ah Cell Cost Reduction on Industry Landscape

Based on the latest collected information, I systematically analyze the impact of the acceleration of UBTECH Walker S2’s mass production and delivery and the cost reduction path of 587Ah cells on the industry landscape.

UBTECH’s industrial humanoid robot Walker S2 is experiencing significant mass production acceleration. The Walker S2, launched in July 2025, reached an important milestone in just a few months—the 1000th industrial humanoid robot rolled off the production line at the Liuzhou factory [1]. As of now, UBTECH’s 2025 industrial humanoid robot capacity has exceeded 1000 units, with deliveries exceeding 500 units, and it plans to increase annual capacity to 10,000 units by 2026 [1].

In terms of orders, UBTECH’s humanoid robot business shows explosive growth:

• 2025 full-year order total reaches 1.3 billion yuan [2]
• Cumulative orders for the Walker series exceed 800 million yuan [3]
• Won the world’s largest humanoid robot contract, worth 250 million yuan [4]
• Repeatedly set new records for humanoid robot order amounts [5]

Walker S2 has realized the world’s first hot-swappable autonomous battery swapping system for humanoid robots, with three core technological innovations [6]:

: Through real-time power monitoring and dynamic energy balancing technology, it achieves simultaneous charging and discharging of dual batteries, seamless switching during battery replacement, supports hot-swapping of batteries with power on, and prevents inrush current and arcing.

: Designed with standardized battery modules and zero-gap compartmentalized structure, it not only allows the battery to be quickly and freely replaced as an energy component but also makes it part of the robot’s body structure.

: The humanoid robot can achieve 3-minute rapid autonomous battery swapping without manual intervention or shutdown, supporting 7×24 hours of uninterrupted operation [6].

CATL announced on June 10, 2025, that it has taken the lead in mass-producing and delivering the next-generation large-capacity energy storage-specific cell—the 587Ah cell [7]. This technological breakthrough has a profound impact on the cost structure of the humanoid robot industry:

: As a next-generation large-capacity energy storage-specific cell, the 587Ah cell has higher energy density than traditional cells, meaning smaller volume and lighter weight for the same capacity.

: As a global leader in power batteries, CATL’s large-scale mass production capacity will significantly reduce unit cell costs. With capacity ramp-up and yield improvement, the cost of 587Ah cells is expected to decline rapidly.

: From the industry trend, in addition to CATL’s 587Ah cell, Huawei and Haibo jointly developed the 588Ah cell, EVE Energy launched the 648Ah cell, and China Innovation Aviation released the 684Ah cell. The diversified supplier pattern will intensify competition and further drive price reductions [8].

According to industry analysis, the power battery cost of humanoid robots accounts for about 0.8%, with a single unit cost of about 170 yuan [9]. However, this is an estimate based on traditional cells. With the application of next-generation large-capacity cells such as 587Ah:

1. Extended Battery Life
   : Higher energy density cells can prolong the single-charge working time of humanoid robots
2. Simplified Battery System
   : Large-capacity cells reduce the number of cells required in the battery pack, lowering system complexity
3. Reduced Thermal Management Costs
   : Fewer large cells help simplify the thermal management system and reduce BOM costs

: UBTECH will further consolidate its leading position in the industrial humanoid robot field with Walker S2’s autonomous battery swapping system and capacity expansion. It has established in-depth cooperation in key areas such as automobile manufacturing, intelligent manufacturing, smart logistics, and embodied intelligence data centers [1].

: The cost reduction of 587Ah cells will reshape the value distribution of the humanoid robot industrial chain. Enterprises with core technologies such as battery swapping systems, dexterous hands, and Group Brain Network 2.0 will gain higher added value, while standardized component suppliers will face price competition pressure.

: Mass production capacity becomes a key competitive barrier. UBTECH’s Liuzhou Robot Super Smart Factory, with an area of 74 mu and a building area of 42,000 square meters, forms a significant barrier for potential new entrants [1].

: With the continuous decline of battery costs, the整机 cost of humanoid robots is expected to approach the economic feasibility threshold for industrial applications. According to industry forecasts, the penetration rate of humanoid robots will increase from 0.2% in 2025 to 66.9% in 2035 [10].

: Cost reduction will promote the penetration of humanoid robots from industrial manufacturing to broader scenarios such as service industry, medical care, and家庭 (home). UBTECH has clearly stated that it will take at least 8-10 years for humanoid robots to enter the home scene [11], but penetration in industrial and commercial scenarios will accelerate.

: The commissioning of UBTECH’s Liuzhou factory marks the shift of the humanoid robot industry from R&D-oriented to manufacturing-oriented, driving upstream component suppliers to layout locally.

: Represented by the Group Brain Network 2.0 (BrainNet 2.0) and Co-Agent intelligent agent technology equipped on Walker S2 [1], the collaborative evolution of AI technology and hardware capabilities will accelerate, promoting the rapid improvement of the intelligence level of humanoid robots.

: UBTECH recently raised about 400 million US dollars through share placement for expansion [12], showing the continuous optimism of the capital market towards the humanoid robot industry, and financing convenience will further accelerate industrial development.

The acceleration of UBTECH Walker S2’s mass production and delivery and the cost reduction path of 587Ah cells form dual driving forces for industrial development. Technological breakthroughs lead to cost reductions, cost reductions promote large-scale applications, and large-scale applications in turn feed back technological iteration—this positive cycle is reshaping the competitive landscape of the humanoid robot industry.

Looking forward, with continuous investment from leading enterprises such as CATL in the field of large-capacity cells, and capacity expansion and order gains from整机 manufacturers such as UBTECH, the humanoid robot industry is expected to迎来 a critical industrialization breakthrough period between 2025 and 2027. The industry is currently equivalent to the stage of the electric vehicle industry in 2014, and a ten-year industrial cycle is about to爆发 [10].

: Attention should be paid to potential impacts of factors such as slower-than-expected technological iteration, supply chain stability, and downstream application scenario development progress on industrial development.

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[1] IT之家 - 优必选第1000台工业人形机器人Walker S2在柳州下线 (https://www.ithome.com/0/908/238.htm)

[2] 电子工程专辑 - 优必选人形机器人订单已近14亿！明年产能将达万台 (https://www.eet-china.com/mp/a463525.html)

[3] 东吴证券研究报告 - AIDC&机器人趋势不改，继续看好第二增长曲线 (https://pdf.dfcfw.com/pdf/H301_AP202507091705925825_1.pdf)

[4] 深圳市发改委 - 2.5亿元，优必选再次斩获全球人形机器人最大合同 (https://fgw.sz.gov.cn/ztzl/qtztzl/szscjmyjjfzzhfwpt/mqfc/myqyfzdt/content/post_12390072.html)

[5] IT之家 - 优必选人形机器人再获1.43亿元订单，2025全年订单总额达13亿元 (https://www.ithome.com/)

[6] 北京科学技术委员会 - 全球首创！优必选工业人形机器人Walker S2实现自主换电 (https://www.ncsti.gov.cn/kjdt/scyq/bjjjjskfq/jkdt/202507/t20250721_210973.html)

[7] 电力设备行业跟踪周报 - 固态电池产业化进展加快 (https://www.etelux.com/upfile/2025/1752661033548.pdf)

[8] 东吴证券研究报告 - 电力设备行业跟踪周报储能锂电需求旺盛 (https://pdf.dfcfw.com/pdf/H3_AP202511171782833356_1.pdf)

[9] 东吴证券研究报告 - 人形机器人产业链纵析，寻找供应链"隐形冠军" (https://pdf.dfcfw.com/pdf/H3_AP202307011591984222_1.pdf)

[10] 中航证券 - 宇树发布第三款人形机器人，优必选Walker S2正式亮相 (https://pdf.dfcfw.com/pdf/H3_AP202507281717170215_1.pdf)

[11] IT之家 - 优必选焦继超：人形机器人进入家庭场景至少还要8-10年左右 (https://www.ithome.com/)

[12] CNBC - Elon Musk envisions humanoid robots everywhere. China may be the first to make it a reality (https://www.cnbc.com/2025/12/30/elon-musk-wants-robots-everywhere-china-is-making-that-a-reality.html)