Agibot Founder Peng Zhihui Takes on Tesla in Robotics
Peng Zhihui, a former “Genius Youth” recruit from Huawei Technologies, has officially launched his new robotics start-up, Agibot, with a bold challenge to Tesla’s Optimus robots. At an online event on Sunday, the 31-year-old founder introduced a new family of humanoid robots, positioning his Shanghai-based firm at the forefront of the industry.
“We have made some breakthroughs … in product research and development in the past year, and we’re now at the forefront of the industry,” Peng announced during the virtual launch.
The New-Generation Robots
Backed by venture capital firm HongShan, Agibot revealed five models of humanoid robots, including both wheeled and biped versions, designed for various applications ranging from household tasks to industrial operations. The company’s flagship model, the Yuanzheng A2, is a biped humanoid robot standing 175 centimeters tall and weighing 55 kilograms. Equipped with a range of sensors and powered by artificial intelligence, the Yuanzheng A2 can see, hear, and process text, audio, and visual information. It is even capable of delicate tasks like threading a needle.
Agibot plans to begin shipping these robots in October, aiming to deliver 300 units by the end of the year, according to company executive Jiang Qingsong, as reported by the digital newspaper The Paper, which is run by state-owned Shanghai United Media Group.
Competing with Tesla’s Optimus
Agibot’s ambitions are clear: to compete directly with Tesla’s Optimus robots. Elon Musk revealed in June that Tesla’s humanoid robots could be available for sale by the end of next year and ready for use in Tesla factories. However, Agibot sees itself as a formidable competitor.
“We don’t think the gap between the two sides [Optimus and Agibot] will be big,” Jiang said in an interview with local media outlet cls.cn. “Our commercialization and cost-control ability is better than that of Tesla.”
The Growing Humanoid Robot Market
Agibot’s entry into the humanoid robot market reflects the intense competition between the world’s two largest economies in the field of advanced technology. As the global AI frenzy continues to attract investors, Big Tech companies, and developers, humanoid robots are emerging as a new battleground. According to an April report by the government-backed China Centre for Information Industry Development, the market for humanoid robots in China is projected to surpass 20 billion yuan (approximately $2.8 billion) by 2026, a significant increase from an estimated 3.9 billion yuan in 2023.
Peng Zhihui’s Journey
Peng Zhihui’s journey to becoming a leader in the robotics industry began at the University of Electronic Science and Technology of China in Sichuan province, where he launched two start-ups focused on 3D printing and biped robots. After earning a master’s degree in information technology in 2018, Peng joined Huawei in 2020, where his reputation as an AI prodigy earned him a reported annual salary of up to 2 million yuan.
Despite his success at Huawei, Peng left the company at the end of 2022 to pursue his passion for robotics full-time, founding Agibot with the support of marquee investors such as HongShan, Hillhouse Investment, electric vehicle giant BYD, and the Shanghai Lingang Economic Development Group.