Zhiyuan Robotics Partner Yao Maoqing: Overseas Revenue Nears 20% in First Half of Year 智元机器人合伙人姚卯青：今年上半年智元海外收入占比已近20%

At BEYOND Expo 2026, Yao Maoqing, a partner at Zhiyuan Robotics, revealed that the company’s overseas revenue share in the first half of this year approached 20%, doubling from less than 10% for the entire previous year. This is more than just a change in financial figures—it is a clear signal of Chinese high‑end hardware manufacturing enterprises breaking through in global markets. It marks that Chinese manufacturing, once dominant in consumer electronics, is now accelerating its entry into developed markets in Europe, America, Japan, and South Korea through higher‑barrier forms like “embodied intelligence” and “humanoid robots.”

The pace of this growth is astonishing. From less than 10% of total revenue for the whole of last year to nearly 20% in just the first half of this year, it indicates that Zhiyuan Robotics’ overseas expansion is not linear but has entered a track of exponential growth. Behind this must lie strong product capabilities, supply‑chain efficiency, and effective market strategies. Yao Maoqing explicitly positioned North America, Europe, and Japan‑South Korea as key markets for future large‑scale breakthroughs—a highly strategic move. These regions are not only traditional strongholds and major consumer markets for global robotics technology but also piers for setting technical standards and building brand prestige. Being able to penetrate and establish a foothold in these markets demonstrates that Zhiyuan Robotics’ products have, in terms of performance, reliability, and scenario adaptability, the capability to compete on equal footing with top international rivals.

However, the rapid increase in overseas revenue share also reveals another reality: Chinese robotics companies must adopt a global perspective from the very beginning. Although the domestic market is vast, the ultimate test for high‑end manufacturing lies globally. Only by succeeding in overseas markets—where technical standards are most stringent and customers most demanding—can companies refine their own technology and quality systems. Zhiyuan’s breakthrough is a microcosm of “Made in China” upgrading to “Smart Manufacturing in China” and climbing the global value chain. Unlike earlier overseas expansions driven by cost advantages, this involves exporting complete solutions and cutting‑edge embodied intelligence concepts—a flow of both technology and brand.

That said, we should maintain a cautious optimism. From nearly 20% to becoming a “significant” portion of overseas revenue, there is still a long road ahead. Markets in North America, Europe, and Japan‑South Korea have deep local industrial bases and customer loyalties, along with complex soft barriers such as regulations, after‑sales support, and cultural differences. How Zhiyuan builds localized service and support systems, and how it deals with potential technical trade barriers, will be key to determining how far its overseas story can go. Moreover, the humanoid robot sector is fiercely competitive, with international giants like Tesla’s Optimus looming and numerous domestic players ramping up efforts. How long the first‑mover advantage can be sustained remains uncertain.

At the same time, the international macro environment is full of complexities. While the European Central Bank is still grappling with “tackling inflation early,” China’s high‑end manufacturing sector, driven by technological innovation, is seeking certain growth in overseas markets. This contrast between industrial momentum and macroeconomic volatility highlights the ability of hard‑tech companies to navigate through cycles. Zhiyuan’s overseas expansion is not merely a commercial move by one company; it also provides a template for Chinese high‑end manufacturing to open new growth frontiers amid a complex geo‑economic landscape. It proves that sustained technological innovation is the most solid foundation for facing all uncertainties.

智元机器人合伙人姚卯青在BEYOND Expo 2026上透露，今年上半年公司海外收入占比已接近20%，相比去年全年的不到10%实现了翻倍式增长。这不仅是一个简单的财务数字变化，更是中国高端硬件制造企业在全球市场实现突破的清晰信号。它标志着，曾经在消费电子领域占据优势的中国制造，正以“具身智能”和“人形机器人”这种技术壁垒更高的形态，加速叩开欧美日韩等发达国家市场的大门。

这种增长速度是惊人的。从去年全年占比不足一成，到今年上半年即逼近两成，这意味着智元机器人的海外拓展不是线性推进，而是进入了指数级增长的轨道。这背后必然有强大的产品力、供应链效率和市场策略作为支撑。姚卯青明确将北美、欧洲和日韩定位为未来大规模突破的市场，这极具战略眼光。这三个区域不仅是全球机器人技术的传统高地和消费主力市场，更是技术标准和品牌高地。能够打入并站稳这些市场，本身就说明了智元机器人的产品在性能、可靠性和场景适配性上，已经具备了与国际顶尖对手同台竞技的资本。

然而，海外收入占比的迅速提升，也揭示了另一重现实：中国机器人企业必须从创立之初就具备全球化视野。国内市场虽然庞大，但高端制造业的终极考场在全球。只有在技术标准最严苛、客户要求最挑剔的海外市场取得成功，才能反向淬炼自身的技术和品质体系。智元的突破，是“中国制造”升级为“中国智造”并在全球价值链上攀升的微观体现。它不同于早年依靠成本优势的出海，而是带着完整的解决方案和前沿的具身智能理念，进行技术和品牌的输出。

当然，我们也需要保持一份审慎的乐观。从近20%到成为“很大一块”海外收入，中间仍有很长的路要走。北美、欧洲和日韩市场拥有深厚的本土工业基础和客户忠诚度，法规、售后、文化等软性壁垒复杂。智元如何构建本地化的服务与支持体系，如何应对可能出现的技术贸易壁垒，将是决定其海外故事能讲多大的关键。此外，人形机器人赛道竞争激烈，国际上有特斯拉Optimus等巨头虎视眈眈，国内也有众多厂商发力，先发优势能保持多久尚存疑问。

与此同时，国际宏观环境也充满复杂性。当欧洲央行仍在为“尽早应对通胀”而纠结时，中国的高端制造业却在技术创新的驱动下，寻求海外市场的确定性增长。这种产业动能与宏观波动的对比，恰好凸显了硬科技企业穿越周期的能力。智元的出海，不仅是一家公司的商业扩张，也为中国高端制造在复杂地缘经济格局下开辟新的增长极提供了范本。它证明了，唯有持续的技术创新，才是应对一切不确定性的最坚实底气。