TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwan is emerging as a key player in the humanoid robot supply chain, according to Agility Robotics co-founder Jonathan Hurst, who visited the country on Wednesday to meet with partner Ability Enterprise Co.
Agility can produce 10,000 robots a year. However, Hurst emphasized that no single firm can supply all the necessary components, according to UDN Money and MoneyDJ.
Hurst said Taiwan’s strengths in component manufacturing and product design make it well-positioned to contribute. He added that the humanoid robot market could eventually grow to twice the size of the automotive industry.
Ability Enterprise, which makes optical components, was Hurst’s first stop. The company and other Abico Group subsidiaries invested NT$300 million (US$9.9 million) in Agility earlier this year.
Each humanoid robot typically requires at least eight camera modules, a product line that could improve its revenue mix. Looking ahead, Ability forecasts that emerging applications, including humanoid robots and drones, will generate 5%–10% of sales by 2026 and could climb to 20% by 2027.
While Agility plans to keep final assembly and testing in the US, Hurst said global supply chains, with Taiwan as a key hub, will be essential for meeting future demand and scaling production.
