Guaruo City in China: Economy Entirely Dependent on Lingerie Production

There are places in the world that emerge long before you arrive, and Shanghai is one of them. Before arriving, I had formed an image in my mind based on films, newspaper headlines, and social media videos: glass skyscrapers, neon lights, relentless energy, and the future.

However, my first look at mainland China was completely different. Despite numerous visits to Hong Kong, I had never visited mainland China, so I arrived with a mix of curiosity and slight apprehension. The immigration process was surprisingly efficient, luggage appeared with military precision, and soon I was moving through nighttime Shanghai towards Changshu.

Unfortunately, it was pitch black outside, so the journey could have been through Shanghai, or the automotive corridors of Stuttgart, Solihull, or Changchun—who knows. My driver, despite the late hour, was cheerful and shared thoughts about the difficult years of the Covid pandemic, which deeply affected China, before dropping me off at the Garrya Yangcheng Lake Hotel—a beautiful lakeside resort, so tranquil it resembled a place for monks recovering from burnout.

The first sign that I was not in Solihull came moments later. Small robots, very similar to miniature versions of R2-D2 from Star Wars, quietly moved through the corridors, delivering room service. They never complained, asked for tips, and somehow avoided every guest with a frightening confidence that hinted that humanity might be living in rented time.

This became my first encounter with a recurring theme over the next 48 hours: technology performing outstanding things discreetly. The reason for my visit was far more exciting than robotic room service. Together with a small group of journalists from the Middle East, I was invited by the Freelander team for an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at the company ahead of the launch of the new Freelander 8 in the Middle East later this year.

After the inevitable ceremonies, speeches, and photos accompanying such events, we reached the part everyone had truly come for. The factory. Or perhaps the word 'factory' does not convey the whole picture.

The Freelander superfactory feels less like an industrial facility and more like an entire city dedicated to vehicle production. With investments exceeding $3.1 billion, including significant upgrades for smart new energy vehicle manufacturing, it represents Jaguar Land Rover's first full-scale production base outside the UK, merging British engineering heritage with Chery's advanced manufacturing expertise.

It is impossible not to be impressed inside. Over 1,100 intelligent robots conduct an industrial ballet with astonishing precision. Massive robotic manipulators move effortlessly through the air, lifting doors, engines, chassis components, and body panels with the confidence of someone brewing tea. Sparks fly from the welding stations like fireworks, while conveyor systems silently transport partially assembled vehicles to the next stage of development.

It is strangely hypnotic. The human personnel are no less impressive. Hundreds of engineers and technicians work side-by-side with automation, not competing with it. Complex tools control tolerances measured in fractions of a millimeter, while teams equip the interiors with a level of care more characteristic of elite furniture than mass production.

This is not automation replacing craftsmanship. It is automation enhancing it. What struck me most was the tireless attention to detail. It seemed that every process was governed by a philosophy: if something could be measured, controlled, or improved, it probably already had been. Digital quality systems track every vehicle throughout production, and every Freelander 8 undergoes rigorous testing before leaving the plant. Rain simulations four times more intense than a natural storm, battery sealing tests, ADAS calibration, and electronic checks ensure that every vehicle is ready not just to leave China, but to function reliably, whether it ends up in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, or anywhere else in the world.

Equally impressive is the factory's sustainability program. Intelligent energy management, water recycling, and low-carbon manufacturing technologies are implemented throughout the site, emphasizing that modern production increasingly means balancing engineering excellence with environmental responsibility.

Perhaps the most encouraging takeaway was that this was not a carefully staged exhibition. We saw production as it actually happened. There were sparks, noise, unfinished vehicles, organized chaos, and thousands of individual processes working in harmony. It was a real look under the hood—if you forgive the inevitable car enthusiast cliché—at what is truly required to produce a modern premium vehicle.

By the time we left after several hours, the Freelander 8 had become more than just a new model preparing for the UAE market. It had become the product of thousands of people, millions of engineering solutions, and one extremely complex production ecosystem. And after spending the morning watching robots assemble cars with almost alarming certainty, and then taking the wheel for a test drive in the afternoon, it suddenly seemed completely different. You weren't just driving a new SUV. You were driving a remarkable sum of everything you had just seen.

The Chinese startup Unitree Robotics is attempting to transform the global recognition of its humanoid robots into a large-scale commercial operation. The company gained worldwide acclaim after demonstrating machines capable of performing acrobatic stunts, but now it faces the challenge of applying this equipment practically.

This progress occurs amid international competition in the field of humanoid robot development, which is considered a strategic area for China. The company, founded by Wang Xinsing, is focusing on reducing costs, controlling component production, and integrating with artificial intelligence systems to accelerate its expansion.

Despite the achieved visibility, widespread adoption remains a distant prospect. Most of the units produced by the company are still held by universities, research centers, and developers, while industrial use constitutes a smaller portion of the business.

Unitree attracted particular attention after public presentations of its H2 and G1 models, which were shown during performances at the Spring Festival Gala, a television event by China Media Group associated with the celebration of Chinese New Year. This demonstration made the company one of the representatives of the Chinese breakthrough in robotics.

During a conference call, Elon Musk of Tesla stated that China holds a prominent position in the humanoid robot sector, noting the lack of significant competitors outside the country.

The growing public attention has also created pressure on the company. Wang Xinsing told Time magazine that the excessive expectations created by the internet amplify the demands for rapid achievements, although developing complex technologies requires longer periods of time.

Unitree's strategy is to offer robots at prices lower than many competitors and maintain control over key hardware parts. The cost of the G1 model was reduced from US$16,000 to US$13,500, while the H2 is valued at approximately US$30,000.

Even after such a reduction, the equipment has not yet captured a broad industrial market. Data provided by the company itself indicates that only a small portion of sales goes to factories and logistics operations, while the main demand is met by academic institutions and research specialists.

Experts point out that humanoid robots still have limitations in performing diverse tasks in real-world conditions. The main difficulty lies in the ability to adapt when working conditions change, such as differences in lighting, materials, or object placement.

Grace Shao, responsible for AI Proem, noted that these devices have not yet reached sufficient maturity for mass market entry. Jian Zheyuan, CEO of the startup Noetix, emphasized that an effective strategy in one specific situation may lose its effectiveness when applied in various scenarios.

Wang compares the current stage of humanoid robotics to the beginning of the popularization of personal computers, when the first users were narrowly specialized professionals. In his opinion, the evolution of software and the increase in the number of developers can gradually expand the industrial use of these machines.

Unitree has also advanced in the process of raising capital on the Shanghai Stock Exchange. Company documents indicate profits of about US$87 million in 2025 and revenue of US$250 million.

In addition to humanoid robots intended for practical tasks, the company introduced the GD01—a larger robot inspired by mechs from popular culture. This equipment was developed as a platform for testing strength and safety but is not yet a product aimed at everyday use. The project itself attracted attention due to its size and the concept of combining features of bipedal and quadrupedal robots. The company's management expressed caution regarding this equipment, stating that its operation still raises safety concerns.

The company hopes that advancements in artificial intelligence will allow for the expansion of the robots' capabilities and bring them closer to more complex actions. Nevertheless, Wang believes that the widespread adoption of humanoid robots will depend on time and technological maturity.