Unitree inks PetroChina robot venture after Pentagon military label

Unitree Technology signed an agreement with China National Petroleum Corporation, PetroChina’s parent, and Beijing Fanjie Intelligent Technology to create a robotics joint venture, with CNPC’s Kunlun Manufacturing and Kunlun Capital owning 60% and Unitree and Fanjie each owning 20%. A Beijing market regulator public comment period on the deal runs Nov. 4–13, and the new company’s registration, name and location are not yet settled. The venture is to make AI-equipped industrial robots for dangerous oil and gas, refinery, storage and emergency-response sites. It is Unitree’s first major state-owned partnership since the Pentagon added it on June 8 to its 1260H list of companies said to support China’s military.