1. Avito (俄罗斯电商平台 Avito) reports that Chinese apparel has become a key driver of order growth on its platform, reflecting rising demand for Chinese fashion products in Russia.
2. Shein (希音) faces a formal investigation under the EU Digital Services Act (DSA), highlighting tightening regulatory scrutiny on major cross-border e-commerce platforms.
3. Temu (拼多多海外版), Shein (希音), and AliExpress (速卖通) have been prohibited from selling LEGO products, as LEGO strengthens global channel and intellectual property control.
4. JIUSHI Intelligence (九识智能) has raised USD 300 million in new funding, surpassing a RMB 10 billion valuation, accelerating the commercialization of autonomous delivery vehicles.
5. Agibot (智元机器人) has officially entered the German market, with Minth Group (敏实集团) serving as its strategic partner and sales agent in Europe.
6. Chow Tai Fook (周大福) plans to enter the Australian market in 2026 and expand into the Middle East within two years, advancing its global retail network.
7. Tencent Cloud (腾讯云) has partnered with Thailand’s CP Group Amaze (正大集团 Amaze) to develop a livestream e-commerce ecosystem in Southeast Asia.
8. Wayve (英国自动驾驶公司 Wayve) has partnered with Uber to deploy Robotaxi services globally, accelerating autonomous driving commercialization.
Embodied AI
9. HONOR (荣耀) plans to launch its first humanoid robot, marking its entry into the embodied AI sector.
10. XPeng (小鹏汽车) has established a new intelligent technology company covering robotics R&D and manufacturing.
11. Agibot (智元机器人) has invested in Huixi Intelligence (辉羲智能) to strengthen its robotics technology ecosystem.
12. Inx Robotics (因时机器人) has completed several hundred million RMB in C1 and C2 financing rounds to accelerate the development of core robotic components.
13. Qianxun Intelligence (千寻智能) has raised nearly RMB 2 billion, reaching a valuation exceeding RMB 10 billion.
14. Zhifang Robotics (智平方) has completed a Series B financing exceeding RMB 1 billion, achieving unicorn status.
15. Variable Robotics (自变量机器人) has completed a new financing round worth several hundred million RMB.
16. CAS Fifth Epoch (中科第五纪) has completed two consecutive financing rounds within one month to develop a commercial embodied AI brain.
17. Juewu Technology (觉物科技) has completed an A round financing exceeding RMB 100 million to advance heavy-payload all-terrain robots.
Selected Developments
1. Shein (希音) Faces Formal Investigation Under the EU Digital Services Act
Event:In February 2026, the European Commission officially launched an investigation into Shein (希音) under the Digital Services Act (DSA), focusing on whether the platform has effectively restricted illegal product sales, ensured algorithm transparency, and avoided addictive platform design mechanisms. The investigation follows earlier regulatory concerns in France regarding the sale of non-compliant products, including controversial doll items involving child-like imagery.
Shein has been designated as a Very Large Online Platform (VLOP) by the EU, requiring stricter compliance obligations such as risk assessments, algorithm transparency, and illegal content governance. Non-compliance could result in fines of up to 6% of global annual revenue.
This investigation reflects the EU’s broader effort to systematically strengthen regulatory oversight of cross-border e-commerce platforms, placing them under the same compliance framework as domestic platforms. Shein previously expanded rapidly in Europe through a small-parcel direct-shipping model and platform-driven distribution, but the DSA requires platforms to take greater responsibility for product compliance, algorithm accountability, and consumer protection. This will significantly increase operational and compliance costs.
For Chinese cross-border e-commerce platforms such as Shein and Temu, competitive advantages in Europe will increasingly depend not only on supply chain efficiency and pricing but also on compliance capabilities, platform governance, and supply chain transparency. Platforms with localized warehousing, compliance teams, and regional operational infrastructure will be better positioned for long-term growth in the European market.
2. JIUSHI Intelligence (九识智能) Raises $300 Million, Surpasses RMB 10 Billion Valuation
Event: Autonomous logistics company JIUSHI Intelligence (九识智能) has completed a new funding round exceeding USD 300 million, reaching a valuation of over RMB 10 billion and becoming the first unicorn in the RoboVan (L4 autonomous delivery vehicle) segment. Founded in 2021, the company focuses on L4 autonomous delivery vehicles for urban logistics and B2B transportation.
By the end of 2025, its autonomous delivery vehicles had been deployed in over 300 cities in China and expanded internationally to Singapore, the UAE, Japan, South Korea, and Malaysia. The company also secured an order of 7,000 autonomous vehicles from China Post and expanded its fleet to more than 20,000 units through integration with Cainiao’s autonomous vehicle business.
This funding round follows the integration of Cainiao’s autonomous delivery operations, signaling a strategic shift from a pure technology provider to a logistics capacity platform. The expansion of fleet size and large-scale enterprise contracts indicates that autonomous delivery is transitioning from pilot deployment to scaled commercial operations.
Compared with Robotaxi services, autonomous logistics faces fewer regulatory barriers and safety constraints, making it one of the earliest commercially viable applications of autonomous driving. This strengthens investor confidence and positions autonomous delivery as a key commercialization pathway for autonomous driving technology.
3. Agibot (智元机器人) Enters the German Market with Minth Group (敏实集团) as Strategic Partner
Event: Agibot (智元机器人) has officially entered the German market and established a strategic partnership with automotive supplier Minth Group (敏实集团), which will serve as its sales and strategic partner in Europe. Leveraging Minth Group’s established manufacturing footprint and customer network across the European automotive supply chain, Agibot aims to introduce embodied AI robots into automotive manufacturing and expand into broader industrial and commercial applications.
This partnership reflects a broader shift in robotics international expansion strategies—from direct overseas sales to localization through established industrial partners. Minth Group’s existing European production facilities and automotive client relationships enable faster integration into local supply chains while reducing market entry and compliance risks.
Germany, as Europe’s manufacturing hub, faces rising labor costs and sustained demand for automation. By leveraging local partners, Chinese embodied AI companies can more effectively integrate into European industrial ecosystems and establish long-term market presence.
4. HONOR (荣耀) Plans to Launch Its First Humanoid Robot
Event: In February, HONOR CEO Zhao Ming announced that the company has established a dedicated embodied AI team and plans to launch its first humanoid robot. HONOR will leverage its expertise in smart devices, AI algorithms, and supply chain management to explore applications in home and personal use scenarios.
HONOR’s entry signals that embodied AI is expanding beyond industrial and research applications into the consumer electronics ecosystem. Compared with traditional robotics companies, consumer electronics manufacturers possess mature mass-production capabilities, global distribution channels, and established user bases.
This could accelerate the transition of humanoid robots toward consumer-oriented products, particularly in areas such as personal assistance and smart home integration.
5. XPeng (小鹏汽车) Establishes Intelligent Technology Company to Advance Robotics
Event: XPeng (小鹏汽车) has announced the mass production roadmap for its humanoid robot “IRON” and is building a full-chain manufacturing system covering core components, assembly, and testing. The robot integrates XPeng’s autonomous driving algorithms, vehicle-grade electronic architecture, and electric drive technologies, leveraging its automotive manufacturing and supply chain capabilities.
XPeng plans to initially deploy robots in showroom services, commercial environments, and industrial support scenarios, with mass production targeted around 2026.
XPeng’s robotics expansion demonstrates how automotive companies are extending autonomous driving technologies into embodied AI systems. Core technologies such as perception, decision-making, and motion control are highly transferable between autonomous vehicles and humanoid robots.
Automakers’ existing large-scale manufacturing infrastructure provides a significant advantage in scaling production, potentially accelerating commercialization.
6. Inx Robotics (因时机器人) Completes Several Hundred Million RMB in C1 and C2 Financing
Event: Inx Robotics (因时机器人) has completed several hundred million RMB in C1 and C2 funding rounds, with investors including China Mobile Industrial Fund, Beijing AI Industry Investment Fund, Shenzhen Capital Group, and Qiming Venture Partners.
The company focuses on core robotic components such as dexterous hands, joint modules, and control systems, which are widely used in industrial robots, humanoid robots, and intelligent manufacturing. The funding will support core technology development, capacity expansion, and commercialization.
The participation of telecom operators, government funds, and industrial investors highlights growing strategic focus on upstream robotics components. Precision actuators and dexterous hands are critical to robot performance, cost, and scalability.
As humanoid robot commercialization accelerates, component suppliers with core technologies are well positioned to integrate into global robotics supply chains and support large-scale deployment.