Chinese companies accounted for 97% of humanoid robot deliveries in the first half of 2026, while European manufacturers have yet to build many finished robots. A Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing Engineering and Automation IPA report says Germany could still secure a role in the supply chain through components such as joints, motors and robot hands.
Research company Smart Analytics Global (SAG) counted about 19,100 humanoid robot deliveries in the first half of 2026; it published the data in August 2026. SAG expects about 60,000 robots to ship during all of 2026 and half a million by 2030. The IPA report puts the potential component market at around 30 billion dollars by 2030.
A supply chain centred in China
China has moved ahead of the United States in deliveries. Agibot, based in the greater Shanghai area, had delivered 8,400 robots, while U.S. firms Tesla, Figure AI and Agility Robotics lagged behind, the report says.
The market remains unsettled. Commercially productive use is limited, and mass production hasn’t yet arrived. SAG says Chinese industry, backed by the government, is trying to speed deployment in manufacturing, logistics and warehousing, where robots could handle clearly defined tasks. The shift from “robots that can put on a show” to “robots that can work reliably” still hasn’t happened, SAG said.
Vincent Bezold, head of the Automated Manufacturing Systems business segment at IPA and author of its specialist report, said supplier chains tend to form near original manufacturers. “As a large proportion of humanoids currently comes from China, corresponding supplier structures are likely to form there as well, just as they did in Germany around the automotive industry,” he said. He added that specialised components remain a particular gap.
IPA and consultancy P3 examined opportunities for European suppliers. The report says European manufacturers already have expertise and production facilities for components used in humanoid robots. Recent comparisons suggest European-made parts have an advantage over Chinese-made parts in some areas.
German firms target key components
Conventional industrial robots use seven joints; humanoid robots need more than 40. Each joint contains a motor, gearbox, bearing and sensor. Schaeffler, Bosch, Schunk, Wittenstein and Neugart make gearboxes, motors, sensors or grippers through their traditional automotive-supplier businesses.
Sebastian Reitelshöfer, head of robotics research at the University of Erlangen–Nuremberg, said some components in showcase models would last “one or two weeks.” The article describes durability problems in some Chinese showcase models under heavy loads, while some European automotive-sector designs last longer. Speaking about a half-marathon robot event, Reitelshöfer said: “They don’t happen to run, as recently in Beijing, a half marathon as a PR stunt by chance. They do it because they wouldn’t withstand a full marathon.”
Schaeffler, an automotive supplier based in Herzogenaurach that specialises in motors and drive technology, unveiled a gearbox designed for humanoid robots in August. The company says its strain wave gear meets core requirements for robot joints. A new production method could reduce manufacturing costs by more than 25% and material use by over 75%. Series production should start in mid-2027.
At Hannover Messe in April 2026, Schaeffler received the Hermes Award for its actuators platform for shoulder, elbow and knee joints. The company says actuators account for around 50% of a humanoid robot’s total cost and play a key role in competitiveness. Schaeffler wants to shape part of the robot’s architecture, not just sell an individual component.
Europe’s access to manufacturers
Bosch and Schunk have worked together since June 2026 on a robot hand intended for different humanoid systems. Schunk has spent around 20 years developing robot hands and specialises in gripping technology. Bosch brings precision mechanics, electronics and software, and is expected to manufacture the hand in series. The hand must grip different workpieces, vary force and work reliably for long periods, while remaining compatible with as many robot platforms as possible.
The IPA and P3 report says Europe’s challenge isn’t only whether it builds its own humanoid robot, but where the industrial value chain develops. Bezold called “access to manufacturers of humanoid robots” Europe’s biggest shortcoming, pointing to relatively few manufacturers in Europe and the small number of humanoid robots currently built there. “That makes it harder for European suppliers to become part of the relevant value chains at an early stage,” he said.
Hardware matters as much as software, the report says, for the economic viability, scalability and industrial impact of humanoid robots. It calls for coordinated action by industry, policymakers and researchers. Suppliers that engage early with actuators, gearboxes, batteries, dexterous hands and lightweight structures can help shape future reference architectures. IPA criticises funding policies that focus exclusively on artificial intelligence.
The mechanical and plant engineering association VDMA argues in its “Humanoid Robotics 2040” study that Europe should also bring the whole production and supply chain to the region. Published in April 2026, the study says annual sales in the millions could be possible by 2042, but Europe would need “far more capital, stronger support for start-ups and bolder industrial steps.” Bezold said: “We ourselves need more manufacturers of humanoid robots in Europe.” Who helps set technical standards and architectures for the next generation remains a key factor.