Tesla Loses Ground in Humanoid Robot Race as Chinese Models Hit Walmart Shelves
Tesla's position in the humanoid robotics market faces new pressure as Chinese competitor Unitree Robotics lists two advanced models on Walmart's U.S. platform. The Unitree G1 humanoid robot and Go2 Robot Dog appeared briefly at premium prices—the G1 carried a $21,600 tag, 57% above its China price—before being delisted.
The MOVE marks the first availability of Chinese humanoid robots on a major U.S. retail platform, underscoring China's accelerating lead in commercial robotics deployment. Tesla's Optimus prototype remains in development, leaving the field open for competitors to establish early market dominance.
Third-party vendor Futurology facilitated the Walmart listings, which targeted mainstream consumers rather than industrial buyers. The premium U.S. pricing suggests strong demand elasticity for cutting-edge robotics, though mass adoption hurdles remain.
