Shares in Unitree, China’s best-known humanoid robot maker, soared more than five-fold in their Shanghai trading ​debut, in a landmark moment for the country’s robotics sector which has become a key battleground in the Sino-U.S. tech war. Unitree, which competes with Tesla and Hyundai Motor Group-owned Boston ‌Dynamics, has drawn global attention for its robots that run, dance and perform martial arts. One of the world’s biggest producers of humanoid and quadruped robots, it is a symbol of national pride for China, backed by influential firms, both private-sector tech giants and state-run. It is also, unlike most of its peers, profitable even if few of its robots are used in commercial applications. “It is a top-tier player, and its uniqueness commands premiums,” said Yan Kai, a venture capitalist and partner at Ivy Capital in ​Shanghai. “Its price is dictated by political and economic considerations, rather than valuation models.”

Full report : China’s backflipping robot maker Unitree pops 542% in Shanghai debut.