Foreign Tier 1 Suppliers Begin 'Selling Scenarios' to Robotics Companies

At the 9th China International Import Expo, Aptiv announced plans to deploy hundreds of Itstone A-series robots across its production lines by the end of 2026, covering eight manufacturing processes and 33 application scenarios. This collaboration extends beyond simple procurement, with Aptiv supplying computing platforms and power management technology while using its own factory floor for robot validation and data collection. Similarly, Schaeffler has activated a Taicang digital intelligence factory integrating manufacturing and training functions, reporting approximately 400 million euros in humanoid robot business orders for the third quarter of 2026. Other Tier 1s like Bosch and Valeo are also leveraging their global manufacturing networks for industrial application verification and model training, though specific pricing for scenario access remains undisclosed.