Beijing: China’s capital is set to launch the world’s first “4S store” dedicated to embodied artificial intelligence (AI) robots, marking a significant step in the country’s commercialization of advanced robotics. The facility, unveiled at a recent press conference, is slated to open in a robotics industrial park in Yizhuang, located in southern Beijing, during the 2025 World Robot Conference, scheduled for August 8-12.
According to Emirates News Agency, the store will mirror the traditional automobile 4S model, which includes “sales, service, spare parts, and surveys,” by offering services related to the sale, maintenance, parts, and information of robotics. The robot 4S store will also provide an area for scenario-based demonstrations and immersive interactions, allowing customers to experience the product capabilities in real-life settings.
The facility will feature a nationwide rapid-response parts supply network and a professional support team for robot maintenance, assembly, and repair. Industry inter
est is already high, with more than 100 supply chain enterprises in the robotics industry expressing clear intentions to settle in the area. This includes 30 companies specializing in humanoid robots.
Ten leading embodied AI robot firms, such as the Beijing Humanoid Robot Innovation Center, UBTECH, and Galaxea, have signed cooperation agreements with the robot 4S store and are expected to be among the first batch of partners to move in. Liang Liang, Deputy Director of Yizhuang’s administrative committee, stated that the establishment of this store marks a key step in building a vibrant robotics industry ecosystem in Yizhuang. It paves the way for the rapid development of robotics firms and enhances the area’s global influence as a robotics hub.
Yizhuang, home to over 300 robotics and smart manufacturing enterprises, is a crucial cluster in Beijing’s robotics sector. The area is the permanent site of the World Robot Conference and boasts an industry chain valued at over 10 billion yuan (approximately 1.39 bi
llion U.S. dollars), which accounts for half of Beijing’s total robotics industry.
Earlier this year, Yizhuang added to its list of global firsts by hosting the world’s first humanoid robot half-marathon. This event drew 20 robotics teams from universities, research institutes, and tech companies to join human athletes in a race covering 21.0975 kilometers. Tiangong Ultra, developed by the Beijing Humanoid Robot Innovation Center, won the humanoid half marathon, finishing first with a time of two hours, 40 minutes, and 42 seconds.
Liang emphasized that Yizhuang is rapidly emerging as a cradle for the future of the robotics industry and a vital hub connecting to the global market.