Leading Chinese humanoid robot maker UBTech gets US$1 billion boost from Infini Capital

UBTech Robotics, a leading Chinese manufacturer of factory robots, has secured a credit line of up to US$1 billion from a Hong Kong investment firm to finance its production expansion, including a joint venture in the Middle East.

The Hong Kong-listed company said in an exchange filing on Sunday it would receive funding from Infini Capital, an investment conglomerate headquartered in Hong Kong and Abu Dhabi. The support would come through share allocations, convertible bonds and expedited loans.

The deal comes as Chinese private investors raise their bets on domestic humanoid robotics companies, which are actively expanding into international markets. Infini Capital, for example, is known for its investments in hi-tech companies, including artificial intelligence firms Beijing Fourth Paradigm Technology and SenseTime.

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Infini Capital opened its Abu Dhabi office in March 2024. Founder and CEO Tony Chin said at the time that the firm intended to capitalise on the "deepening investments between Greater China and the Middle East".

The firm plans to help UBTech establish a research centre and a "super factory" in the Middle East. It also aims to increase its holdings in UBTech to a 5 per cent equity stake, leveraging its previous investments in the AI and robotics supply chains to help the Shenzhen-based robot manufacturer develop "more powerful and cost-effective humanoid robots".

Infini Capital, the first Asian hedge fund in Abu Dhabi, has a diversified investment portfolio that includes strategic emerging technologies, AI, humanoid robots and intelligent manufacturing.

UBTech shares closed up 4.8 per cent on Monday.

The company's robots are currently deployed in the production facilities of major Chinese carmakers, including BYD, Dongfeng Motor, Geely Auto, FAW-Volkswagen, Audi FAW and BAIC Group.

Last month, UBTech said it planned to raise HK$2.41 billion (US$309 million) through a share placement. It aimed to use the proceeds for business operations and development, including working capital, project construction and renovation, and loan repayment.

For the first half of 2025, UBTech posted a revenue increase of 27.5 per cent to 621 million yuan (US$87.1), while its losses narrowed to 414 million yuan from 516 million yuan a year earlier.

This article originally appeared in the South China Morning Post (SCMP), the most authoritative voice reporting on China and Asia for more than a century. For more SCMP stories, please explore the SCMP app or visit the SCMP's Facebook and Twitter pages. Copyright © 2025 South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved.

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