A new store called Robot Mall has opened in Beijing, selling humanoid and consumer-oriented robots direct to the public.
The ‘all-services’ facility is being described as the world’s first 4S store for humanoid robots.
4S is a concept incorporating sales, service, spare parts and surveys, with the latter referring to the collection and analysis of customer feedback.
The business model is common in the automotive industry, where a single location can offer a range of services, including sales and maintenance.
The new store is said to go even further by incorporating the full life cycle of robotics, from R&D and testing to real-world deployment.
Robot Mall is located in the robotics industrial park in the suburb known as the Beijing Economic-Technological Development Area, or Beijing E-Town.
It currently showcases more than 50 different robots in a range of categories and use cases, including medical, manufacturing, companion, bionic, integrated, bipedal humanoid and wheeled humanoid robots.
They include models from some of China’s most advanced robotics manufacturers, including the Beijing Humanoid Robot Innovation Centre, Unitree Robotics and UBTECH Robotics.
The robots available vary widely in price from 2,000 yuan (£207) to millions of yuan (£100,000 and up).
Robots on show include dogs, cooks and a replica Albert Einstein
Some of the more distinctive robots on display include robotic dogs in lion dance costumes, robots that can flip pancakes and brew coffee, mechanical butlers, and even a replica of Albert Einstein.
The opening of the store also coincided with the 2025 World Robot Conference, which ran over the weekend from 8th to 12th August.
The conference followed the theme of ‘Making Robots Smarter, Making Embodied Agents More Intelligent’ and showcased over 1,500 products from more than 200 leading robotics companies based all over the world.
The Robot Mall facility is spread across four storeys and more than 4,000 square metres of floor space.
The ground floor features immersive settings demonstrating robots at work in medical and industrial settings.
The next floor up offers a futuristic space filled with interactive exhibits and features including robotic arms and a demonstration of computer-brain interfaces.
The third storey houses services including robot component replacement, diagnostics and maintenance, while the fourth floor serves as a ‘business negotiation area’.
A robot-run restaurant will also operate next door, offering a fully automated dining experience for shoppers and browsers.
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