BYD yesterday released a teaser poster hinting that its first humanoid robot will make its public debut in early August. The announcement follows earlier comments from BYD executives signaling the company’s ambitions in robotics. Last month, BYD Executive Vice President Li Ke said the company hopes to eventually deploy humanoid robots across its dealership network, where they could introduce vehicles to customers and assist with product demonstrations.
Li said humanoid robots designed for homes and the service industry could become a significant growth market for BYD. “My goal is to place two or three robots in every dealership,” Li said. “They can explain our vehicles to customers, create a more engaging atmosphere, and even demonstrate vehicle features.” According to Li, robotic sales assistants could become commercially viable within the next one to two years. [IThome, in Chinese]