Regulators have used informal “window guidance” to hold back some listings, according to people familiar with the matter. One source told Reuters that humanoid IPOs had effectively been frozen for now, while another described the action as a sector-specific slowdown rather than a formal ban. The China Securities Regulatory Commission did not comment.
The scrutiny follows the volatile public-market debut of Unitree Robotics. Unitree shares rose more than fivefold after listing in Shanghai in August before falling approximately 55% from their peak.
Regulators are reportedly paying particular attention to revenue generated through local-government-backed projects. These include robot data-collection centers and joint ventures where local governments can provide 80% to 90% of initial investment. Regulators are questioning whether those orders represent recurring demand from independent customers.
One person close to humanoid robotics investors estimated that valuations at some companies could fall 60% to 70% if revenue associated with data-collection centers were excluded. The estimate is that source’s assessment, not a regulator calculation.
At least half a dozen Chinese humanoid robotics companies are currently preparing public listings. Reuters specifically identified Deep Robotics, X Square Robot and AgiBot among them. None commented to Reuters on whether their listing plans had been affected.
The regulatory scrutiny was initially reported earlier this month. Reuters’ new reporting adds details on the revenue categories being examined, the extent of the slowdown and its connection to Unitree’s post-IPO volatility.
