China's first open robot leasing platform, Qingtian Zu, was recently unveiled in Shanghai, offering an integrated robot leasing solution through a Robot-as-a-Service model.

The platform provides two categories of humanoid robots for lease: basic and dance versions.

The basic model, priced at around 3,000 yuan ($428.1) per day, can perform simple gestures such as waving, walking, and shaking hands.

The dance version costs about 5,000 yuan daily and is capable of dancing and performing actions, including saluting, blowing kisses, and shooting a ball.

For more budget-conscious clients, robot dogs are available at 1,500 yuan per day. These models can also dance and deliver New Year's greetings, offering a lower-cost alternative for festive and promotional use.

Humanoid robots drew nationwide attention during the 2025 Spring Festival Gala, when 16 Unitree H1 humanoid robots performed on stage. Following the holiday, interest in humanoid robots surged, prompting businesses to move quickly to commercialize the trend through rental services.

Jiang Qingsong, senior vice-president of Shanghai-based robotics firm Agibot, estimated that the robot leasing market will exceed 1 billion yuan this year, and is expected to reach 10 billion yuan next year as more leasing platforms come online.

Jiang noted that the current leasing market is fragmented and lacks synergy. To address this, the Qingtian Zu platform offers a full suite of services, including robot hardware, content programming, operators, logistics, and after-sales support.

The platform has already secured its first major client, Haidilao, one of China's most popular hotpot chains. During the upcoming Spring Festival holiday, leased robots will be deployed in select Haidilao outlets to interact with customers.

Launched in Shanghai, the Qingtian Zu platform plans to expand to 200 cities nationwide next year and is expected to serve over 400,000 customers.

Source: Jiefang Daily