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Unitree Unveils Rideable GD01 Mecha, a Transforming Robot It Says Is Production-Ready

Priced from 3.9 million yuan, the launch signals China’s push into commercial mechas, with open questions on usability, safety, regulatory approval.

Overview

  • Unitree Robotics, which unveiled the GD01 on Tuesday, showed the 500‑kilogram machine carrying a pilot, walking on two legs, dropping to four, and knocking down a brick wall in a demo video.
  • The company lists a starting price of 3.9 million yuan (about $574,000) and markets the GD01 as a civilian vehicle, with no US or UK distributor disclosed.
  • Technical details are sparse, and Unitree posted a safety notice asking buyers to avoid dangerous modifications or hazardous use of the robot.
  • Reporters flagged practical unknowns such as battery runtime, control method, and how the cockpit accommodates the pilot when the frame flips into quadruped mode.
  • The launch arrives as Unitree pursues a Shanghai listing and as Chinese firms dominate humanoid robot sales, with Omdia estimating nearly 90% global share in 2025 and Unitree reportedly shipping over 5,500 units last year.