When cars and robots merge: Embodied intelligence is revolutionizing mobility in China

New Segment When Cars and Robots Merge: Embodied Intelligence is Revolutionizing Mobility in China

2025-04-30 From Henrik Bork | Translated by AI 4 min Reading Time

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The conversion of scientific disciplines is one of the megatrends of our time. What were once separate fields are increasingly merging into hybrid innovations—biotech meets AI, medical technology meets quantum computing. Now it's the automotive industry's turn. The integration of robots and vehicles is creating a completely new segment—so-called "embodied intelligence on wheels".

The integration of robots and vehicles is creating a completely new segment—so-called "embodied intelligence on wheels".(Image: Great Wall Motors) — The integration of robots and vehicles is creating a completely new segment—so-called "embodied intelligence on wheels".
(Image: Great Wall Motors)

An exciting example of this now comes from China. Here, car manufacturer Great Wall Motor (GWM) and Unitree Robotics, a specialist in four-legged robots and humanoid systems, have just agreed on a strategic cooperation to jointly research the interface between vehicle construction and robotics. The aim is to create a new generation of intelligent machines that can move autonomously, learn and think for themselves. Both companies want to focus on three central areas in the coming years. These include

Basic research on embodied intelligence,
specific applications in the field of "vehicle plus robot" and
Intelligent production and logistics solutions for manufacturers

The first pilot projects are dedicated to marrying off-road vehicles with robot dogs, for example for transporting equipment or as assistance on excursions for research or in industrial maintenance. In a press release dated April 8, GWM spoke of a "strategic partnership that makes technological convergence a reality and accelerates the transfer of laboratory developments into industrial applications".

Combined Competencies

Unitree is contributing its expertise in motion control, sensor technology and software development to this project. GWM, in turn, shares its experience in intelligent driving control, networked vehicle architecture and integration suitable for large-scale production. Both companies presented an initial concept at the CES in Las Vegas in January 2025: An SUV flanked by an autonomous quadruped with cameras, gripper arm and navigation module. Both systems communicate in real time, detect obstacles and exchange sensor data. This showcase is now set to become reality.

The Demand is There

According to estimates by Chinese analysts, the market for cars plus robots in China alone could reach a volume of several hundred billion yuan within five years, which corresponds to several million euros, for example for special vehicles used by fire departments, rescue services, border patrols or as mobile agricultural technology.

The GWM-Unitree alliance is an example of a rapidly growing trend. More and more car manufacturers are cooperating with high-tech companies to open up new business areas beyond traditional mobility. At the same time, high-tech companies are increasingly discovering the automotive industry. For example, Huawei, the Chinese telecoms equipment supplier, is becoming a supplier to the automotive industry with autonomous vehicle software, cockpit control and driver assistance systems. Horizon Robotics, on the other hand, is cooperating with Volkswagen in the development of vehicle-integrated AI systems. Or Tesla—with its humanoid robot Optimus, the Californian electric car manufacturer is driving forward its vision of a robotic ecosystem in which cars and robots use the same neural network.

Conversion can also be seen outside the automotive industry. In biotechnology, for example, artificial intelligence is accelerating the search for new active ingredients. Companies such as Insilico Medicine and BioNTech rely on AI-based platforms for molecular analysis. In the pharmaceutical sector, generative AI not only helps in the discovery of new drugs, but also in the simulation of clinical tests and by speeding up the production of drugs. In mechanical engineering, the combination of sensor technology, edge computing and machine learning is also currently creating new, increasingly autonomous production processes.

Embodied Intelligence Becomes Part of the Five-Year Plan

The Chinese government wants to exploit the potential of embodied intelligence and has just included the topic in its national five-year plan. "In the future, our vehicles should act like living beings—with intelligent perception, precise motor skills and their own decisions," the car newspaper Qiche Shangye Pinglun quoted Dongfeng car manager You Zheng as saying when he was asked about the government's plans.

Whether for new products or for their manufacture, the conversion between mechanics, AI and robotics, in particular the interplay of sensor technology, motor technology and computing power for flexible, situation-adapted control systems typical of embodied intelligence, is currently changing the entire industry.

Chinese companies are jumping on this new wave of disruption with great enthusiasm. BYD is already using AGVs, i.e. driverless vans, and robot arms for the fully automated assembly of batteries in its factories. Xiaomi is integrating robotics into its smart home products. And car manufacturer GAC says: "Our robotics systems benefit directly from the supply chain of our electric vehicles—chips, sensors and software are co-developed in a standardized way."

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Where is the Journey Going?

Of course, it is not yet clear which applications will prevail in the long term. Even in "embodied AI", there are still frictional losses such as a lack of standards, expensive sensor technology and a high appetite for data. However, the pace of technical iteration is high and development is unstoppable. According to a report by Virtue Market Research, the global market volume of embodied AI is estimated to reach 9.4 billion US dollars by 2030, which corresponds to annual growth of more than 15 percent.

This presents the automotive industry with a double opportunity. Not only can it make its own products smarter—it can also position itself as an enabler of intelligent systems in completely different sectors. Whether robot-assisted fire engines, autonomous warehouse logistics or mobile repair hubs—the future is agile, adaptive and networked. (se)