Yushi Technology officially launched the world’s first mass-produced piloted transforming mech, the GD01, on May 12, 2026, in China. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9] The GD01 is priced from 3.9 million yuan (about 650,000 USD or 730,000 SGD). [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 10, 11, 6, 8, 9] It supports two modes of movement: upright bipedal walking and quadrupedal crawling, designed primarily as a civilian transportation vehicle. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9] The mech weighs around 500 kilograms when occupied by a pilot. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9] It stands approximately 1.6 times the height of two adults, resembling a large steel giant. [5, 11, 6, 7]
Demonstrations showed the GD01 punching through a brick wall, highlighting its strength and stability. [1, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9] Its transformation between upright and four-legged modes is smooth and quick, allowing it to adapt to complex terrain. [1, 3, 5, 6, 7, 9] Yushi’s founder Wang Xingxing personally operated the GD01 at the launch event. [1, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9] Wang said, "Is this what everyone has been waiting for? Bringing sci-fi into reality, the piloted mech moves from concept prototype to civilian mass production." [1]
Yushi positioned the GD01 as a civilian transport tool, with potential future uses in cultural tourism displays, special operations, and private high-end travel. [1, 5, 6, 8] The company stressed that humanoid mech robots remain in early exploratory stages and urged buyers to exercise caution and follow safety protocols. [7, 8, 9] Their official statement said, "Please everyone be sure to use the robot in a Friendly and Safe manner," and warned, "Global efforts are still in early exploration; individual purchasers must fully understand the limitations before acquisition." [11, 9]
While the GD01 moves stably when occupied, most demonstrations have used remote or empty controls. [3] Yushi has not disclosed detailed specs such as battery range, top speed, or payload capacity. [10, 6, 9] Earlier, Yushi reported shipping over 5,500 humanoid robots in 2025, capturing 32.4% of the global embodied intelligence market. [1]
Yushi is currently applying for an IPO on the Science and Technology Innovation Board, aiming to raise 4.2 billion yuan. [8]
Public response has been mixed, with some intrigued by the GD01's capabilities and others skeptical about its practicality as a civilian transport device. [1, 3, 10, 6] The company faces a challenge in proving the mech’s real-world application beyond novelty.
Yushi’s next steps focus on ramping up production and addressing regulatory and safety requirements for civilian mech robot use.
