Chinese humanoid robot maker Robotera has raised nearly CNY 1 billion (about USD 140.5 million) in its third round of funding in just a little over a year. The latest investment was led by Geely Capital, the investment branch of major car company Geely Holding Group.
Robotera said that other investors also joined the A+ funding round. One of them is BAIC Capital, which is part of the Beijing-based car company BAIC Group.
Two government-backed funds also took part in the investment. These are the Beijing Artificial Intelligence Industry Investment Fund and the Beijing Robotics Industry Development Investment Fund.
This new funding round will help Robotera improve its technology faster and use it in real-life situations. Their advanced intelligence model, ERA-42, can understand what it sees, reads and hears, and then take action. Robotera said that support from Geely and BAIC will also help them use this technology in more industries connected to these companies.
ERA-42 is already being used in different types of robots. In logistics, the robots can sort packages and scan them quickly. In manufacturing, they can pick parts, help with assembly and check product quality.
In commercial places like malls and offices, the robots can clean floors, deliver items and assist visitors by giving directions. This shows how ERA-42 can work in many real-world environments.
Robotera has completed three funding rounds in just over one year, collecting a total of CNY 1.8 billion (USD 253 million). Last October, the company raised CNY 300 million (USD 42.2 million) in a pre-A round led by Alibaba, along with venture capital firms Crystal Stream Capital and Vision Capital.
In July, Robotera—founded in August 2023 by a research team from Tsinghua University—raised another CNY 500 million (USD 70.3 million) in its Series A funding round. This round was led by CDH Venture and Growth Capital, along with Haier Capital, the investment arm of Haier Group.
CDH Venture and Growth Capital are part of CDH Investments, a major asset management company. Their support, along with Haier Capital’s investment, shows strong confidence in Robotera’s technology and future growth.
Since early this year, Robotera has been expanding its commercial activities. The company said that total customer orders have already passed CNY 500 million (USD 70.2 million), showing strong demand for its robots.
Half of Robotera’s orders now come from overseas markets. The company has built a strong global presence with customers in North America, Europe, the Middle East, Japan, and South Korea.
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