Chinese Robots, the fierce competition for Europe begins

Gasgoo Munich- On February 24, AGIBOT took the stage in Munich, Germany, to formally announce its entry into the German market.

At the launch, the company did more than just unveil its full lineup of general-purpose embodied robots and system-level industry solutions for the German market; it also signed a strategic partnership with Minth Group.

Under the agreement, the two parties will leverage the deep integration of technology and industrial resources to accelerate the localized deployment and scaling of robotics across Europe.

For Minth, its 15 years of deep roots in Europe and mature industrial operational capabilities make it the ideal strategic partner and sales agent for AGIBOT in the region.

Why AGIBOT Picked Minth for Germany

For AGIBOT, finding a local partner overseas that can shore up weaknesses and create synergy is far more critical than simply shipping products out the door.

And Minth happens to offer exactly that kind of multifaceted value.

Image Source: AGIBOT

As a leading global manufacturer of automotive exteriors and structural components, Minth has cultivated the European market for 15 years, establishing production bases and technical teams in Germany, France, the UK, the Czech Republic, Poland, and Serbia. Notably, it commands over 40% of the European market for aluminum trim and battery enclosure structures.

This means Minth isn't just familiar with European supply chains—it has a deep grasp of local business rules, compliance requirements, and the unwritten logic of the industrial culture. With Minth in its corner, AGIBOT can avoid paying a steep "tuition" in trial and error.

But Minth brings far more to the table than just channels and experience.

Per the agreement, Minth's network of modern global factories will serve as exclusive training bases for AGIBOT's robots to learn and collect data. This setup injects precious real-world scenario data into the machines, accelerating algorithm iteration and technical evolution.

After all, Minth operates 78 factories and offices worldwide with a workforce exceeding 27,000. In other words, AGIBOT's robots get a chance for "combat drills" across vast industrial scenarios—handling complex part grasping, high-precision assembly, logistics scheduling, and equipment monitoring. These diverse task demands serve as essential "learning materials" for the robots.

Labs struggle to simulate the complexity and uncertainty of actual production lines. Yet it is precisely those shifting light conditions, varying material textures, and the movement of workers on the floor that provide the most valuable "nutrients" for data training.

In this sense, Minth is offering more than a sales channel; it is providing a training ground capable of sustaining a continuous data flywheel.

Image Source: Minth Group

In fact, as early as March 2025, Minth signed a three-year strategic cooperation agreement with AGIBOT to collaborate deeply on intelligent humanoid robot exteriors, wireless charging, joint modules, and flexible manufacturing solutions. This latest signing marks a further deepening of that partnership.

Of course, any collaboration is a two-way street. From Minth's perspective, this partnership is equally a critical step in its strategic transformation.

In recent years, Minth has been actively expanding into new arenas like artificial intelligence, robotics, the low-altitude economy, and smart mobility. Leveraging its industrial capabilities, global network, and local operational experience, it aims to build a "second growth curve" and become a leading supplier of robotic system components.

To that end, Minth has already partnered with Leaderdrive, a domestic leader in harmonic reducers, to establish a joint venture in the United States and expand its humanoid robot joint module business.

Building on this foundation, the cooperation with AGIBOT will not only address the urgent need for intelligent upgrades in Minth's own factories—boosting production flexibility and efficiency—but also allow it to integrate co-developed robot technologies and components into solutions for global clients. This strengthens Minth's competitiveness in automotive parts and broader smart manufacturing, accelerating the realization of its "second growth curve."

Deepening European Footprint: Germany is Key

As the birthplace and benchmark of Industry 4.0, Germany is far from a ordinary market for AGIBOT.

Germany is not just Europe's economic engine; it is the high ground of global smart manufacturing and industrial automation. It is home to Mercedes-Benz, BMW, and Volkswagen—automakers with the most stringent automation requirements—along with a host of "hidden champions" in niche sectors. German companies are known for their near-exacting standards regarding equipment reliability, stability, and safety.

In other words, entering Germany is equivalent to passing the highest global standard test.

Once a firm gains a foothold in Germany and earns the trust of German clients, that demonstration effect can radiate across the entire European continent and beyond. The value of such technical certification and market endorsement is worth more than any number of glossy brochures.

Often, the value of this technical validation and market backing outweighs stacks of flashy marketing materials.

Particularly now, as humanoid robots stand on the eve of mass adoption, AGIBOT's timing in going overseas carries clear strategic intent.

A February research report from UBS forecasts global demand for humanoid robots to reach roughly 30,000 units in 2026, though true volume growth may not arrive until 2027 or 2028. By pushing out during this window, AGIBOT seems intent on seizing a voice in the ecosystem before industry standards solidify—those who prove their tech in real-world scenarios early are best positioned to define future norms.

In reality, beyond Germany, AGIBOT has been making frequent moves overseas.

Image Source: AGIBOT

On January 30, AGIBOT held its first European launch in Milan, Italy, officially marking its expansion into that market. To ensure reliable localized deployment and operations in Italy, AGIBOT struck a strategic partnership with SIR Spa, a leading Italian industrial system integrator. SIR will provide system integration, on-site deployment, and operational support to ensure humanoid robot solutions are deeply adapted to local industrial and service environments.

Earlier still, AGIBOT showcased its full product lineup at the BETT show in London, offering a reference model for the development of embodied intelligence education and research in the UK and Europe.

On January 13, AGIBOT opened its first overseas robot experience center in Malaysia. Located in i-City, Shah Alam, Selangor, it is not only Malaysia's first AI robot experience center but also Zhiyuan's first globally.

Combined with other markets, AGIBOT has now established local teams in 10 markets, including Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, and Australia. Through five cooperation models—joint ventures, distribution, experience centers, rental alliances, and e-commerce platforms—and leveraging four core capabilities—fulfillment and after-sales, scenario solutions, brand marketing, and partner enablement—it is expanding its market reach comprehensively.

With this formal entry into Germany, AGIBOT's European strategy shifts from tentative exploration to systematic deep cultivation.

In the past, Chinese companies going overseas often either fought alone—building their own teams, expanding channels, and feeling out the market—or simply sold goods, treating the transaction as complete once the product shipped, with little follow-up on service or iteration.

AGIBOT and Minth are charting a different course: deep integration of technical capability and industrial resources. AGIBOT brings the technology; Minth provides localized production, supply chain integration, after-sales service, and access to real-world data. This approach of "hitching a ride" through industrial partnerships carries lower risk and builds a stronger foundation than the previous models.

Notably, Minth is both a partner and a seed user for AGIBOT. This dual identity allows for faster alignment—Zhiyuan can iterate products rapidly based on Minth's real feedback, while Minth gets priority access to customized solutions.

If this model succeeds, it could validate a crucial thesis: the value of robotics is maximized only when embedded within industrial processes, not merely by selling hardware.

Of course, any attempt to go overseas faces uncertainty. Challenges in cross-cultural management, the EU's stringent data compliance requirements, and the fit between technology and real market needs are all hurdles AGIBOT must gradually clear.

As for how far AGIBOT can ultimately go, only time will tell.