Germany’s VDMA engineering association has urged European and German policymakers to place humanoid robotics and physical AI at the top of their political agenda. The industrial lobby warned that Europe must urgently build resilient domestic supply chains for critical components to keep pace with the rapidly accelerating global market. According to the association, the central challenge facing the region is scaling up local manufacturing capabilities to secure technological sovereignty.

The call to action comes as global shipments of humanoid robots nearly quadrupled in the first half of the year to 19,100 units, with Chinese manufacturers largely driving the surge. Demonstrating this momentum, Chinese robot maker Unitree saw its stock skyrocket during its Shanghai trading debut, marking a major milestone for China’s robotics industry. As the sector rapidly becomes a key battleground in the broader Sino-U.S. tech rivalry, European leaders fear being left behind without decisive policy support.

To counter the growing dominance of foreign competitors, the VDMA stressed that Europe must establish a comprehensive, end-to-end value chain. By manufacturing key physical AI components locally, European nations can protect their industrial sectors against supply disruptions while attempting to capture market share in the emerging global race for humanoid robotics leadership.

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