BYD patent reveals its first humanoid robot design
China's patent office published the design on October 9, five months after BYD filed it, for a robot meant to walk, balance and interact.
Updated
In short
- 01BYD's patent lists service, education and industrial settings as uses for the robot and names four designers.
- 02BYD said in July it would unveil a humanoid robot in August, but CnEVPost says no formal launch had followed by October 9.
- 03Specs for Xiao Di, BYD's reported name for the robot, came from a BYD venue post that was later deleted, KrASIA reported.
The story
China's National Intellectual Property Administration published a BYD design patent for an "embodied intelligent robot" on October 9, 2026. The record, number CN310247768S, shows BYD filed it on April 30, and The Paper's report on the patent reproduces its drawings.
It's the first formal look at the design of the humanoid BYD has said it's building. BYD told the China Securities Journal on July 28 that it would unveil a humanoid robot in August, CnEVPost reported. By October 9, it still hadn't held a formal launch, CnEVPost said.
The patent shows a humanoid meant to walk, balance and interact
The drawings show an upright robot with two arms, two legs and jointed fingers. It has an oval head with a dark face, light panels over the torso and limbs, and exposed mechanics around the waist and legs.
The patent's short description says the robot is meant to walk, balance and interact, in service, education or industrial settings. It names four designers.
A design patent covers looks only. It doesn't show how well the robot works, when it'll ship or whether the final product will match the drawings.
BYD hasn't confirmed the robot's name or specs
On July 28, BYD executive vice president He Zhiqi posted a teaser poster calling the robot Xiao Di, The Paper reported. The Paper said the robot on the poster closely resembles the patent drawings.
Specs for Xiao Di came from a BYD venue post that was later deleted, KrASIA reported. They put it at 1.61 meters tall and 58.5 kilograms, with 31 degrees of freedom. CarNewsChina noted that BYD hasn't said whether the patent shows the final Xiao Di.
Reports also differ on August. Some Chinese tech sites say Xiao Di appeared at BYD's Di Space venue in Zhengzhou in early August. CnEVPost and CarNewsChina still describe it as teased, not launched, and we couldn't confirm a public showing.
BYD wants its robots in car showrooms first
My goal is to bring two or three robots to every single store.
Stella Li, BYD executive vice president, to Business Insider in June
Li told Business Insider the robots could explain and demonstrate cars, but wouldn't replace the human connection with salespeople. Rival Xpeng plans to start mass production of its Iron humanoid by the end of 2026, CnEVPost reported.
BYD hasn't given a launch date, price or production plan for the robot.
Why it matters
Carmakers already build the motors, batteries and electronics a humanoid needs, which is why BYD, Xpeng and Tesla are all chasing one. A design patent shows BYD has settled on a look, not that the robot works. BYD promised an August unveiling, so its next real test is a public demo with confirmed specs and a price.
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