Pudu Robotics recently closed a funding round that brought in nearly US$150 million. This infusion pushes the Shenzhen-based company’s valuation above US$1.5 billion and lifts its total capital raised past US$300 million.
Leaders plan to channel the money into several strategic priorities. They will speed up work on embodied AI to make robots smarter and more adaptable in real-world settings. The funds will also support broadening the product lineup and scaling up manufacturing to meet growing orders.
Pudu executives see this capital as essential for the company’s mission of tackling persistent labour shortages across industries. By investing in advanced tech and production capacity, the company is positioning itself to continue delivering automation technologies that can boost efficiency in service and industrial environments.
Founder and CEO Felix Zhang likes to think that the round is a validation of the company’s technological edge. He emphasized that Pudu will persist with its robotic ambitions and attempt to drive wider robot adoption globally.
“Backed by our strategic investors and industrial partners, Pudu will continue to push the boundaries of embodied AI and commercial service robotics,” he stated in a press release on Apr. 23.
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Pudu’s robotic arsenal is vast
The Chinese tech creator develops a wide range of mobile robots that serve commercial and industrial needs. Its delivery robots transport food, dishes and packages inside restaurants, hotels and retail spaces, which allows human staff to focus on other duties.
The company also produces advanced cleaning systems. Models such as the BG1 series AI-native scrubber-dryers and the MT1 robotic sweepers autonomously handle large floors in malls, offices, airports and factories. These machines adapt to different surfaces, detect obstacles and manage spills with minimal supervision.
On the industrial side, Pudu offers autonomous mobile robots designed for material transport. The light-payload T150 and heavier T300 and T600 models navigate narrow factory aisles and warehouses while carrying loads from 150 to 600 kilograms.
Additional platforms include the D5 series quadruped robots, which climb stairs and perform complex deliveries in environments where wheeled robots struggle.
Pudu celebrates opening U.S. headquarters
The firm recently opened its new American headquarters in Richardson’s Sherman Tech Center in the Dallas area, relocating operations from Santa Clara, California. Employees converted the former California office into a coastal logistics outpost and set up dual warehouses to help speed up nationwide deliveries.
The new facility in Texas spans significant square footage and includes office space, a product showroom and on-site warehousing. Pudu has had a presence in the U.S. since 2018 and supports nearly 15,000 robots already deployed across the Americas. Regional revenue has grown 285 per cent year-over-year.
Pudu’s major clients include Walmart Inc (NYSE: WMT) (ETR: WMT), Honeywell International Inc (NASDAQ: HON) (ETR: ALD), Accenture plc (NYSE: ACN) (FRA: CSA), Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd (NYSE: NCLH) (FRA: 1NC) and multiple automotive brands.
This expansion provides a solid operational base in the United States as Pudu prepares for an IPO. No concrete data for the offering has been set yet, but the intention has been confirmed.
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