A leading US distributor of China’s most popular humanoid robots and robot dogs is pivoting to local production amid growing scrutiny from the US government. RoboStore, which had been a key player in North America, now plans to open a manufacturing facility on Long Island, New York, by early next year.

The company's founder Teddy Haggerty explained that they had already considered starting their own manufacturing business for about a year. ‘Our customers were telling us what they needed,’ he said, noting that while humanoid robots are trendy, specialized robotic arms might be more beneficial for many businesses.

With this new venture, RoboStore is launching a subsidiary called Robo Inc., dedicated to robotics manufacturing and systems integration, aiming to serve industries with tailored solutions. Universities like Harvard and MIT, as well as tech giants Amazon and Nvidia, have been early adopters of Chinese-made robots through the firm.

The move comes at a time when concerns over technology from abroad are increasing in the US. By producing locally, RoboStore hopes to meet both regulatory requirements and customer demands for more bespoke robotic solutions.