McKinsey argues that the biggest challenge for humanoid robots is no longer AI capability; it’s the hardware supply chain. Humanoid robots depend on a complex hardware stack. The most expensive and critical area is actuation (motors, gears, movement systems), representing roughly 40–60% of total cost. Robot hands are especially difficult and dependent on this complexity.

What follows from these facts? This is an area China dominates, and it follows humanoid robotics, too.

As China has done for the EVs, the typical/average global humanoid robot of the 2030s-40s will be Chinese-made, ≈ $10k, and sold in the global south.

McKinsey - Turning humanoid supply chain constraints into billion-dollar wins