SHANGHAI, March 25 -- Chinese robotics start-up Agibot plans to produce up to 5,000 humanoid robots this year, matching the output target set by Elon Musk's Optimus project, a senior executive said.

The Shanghai-based company, also known as Zhiyuan Robotics, aims to deliver between 3,000 and 5,000 robots, a sharp increase from fewer than 1,000 units last year, according to Yao Maoqing, a partner at Agibot and president of its embodied intelligence unit, according to a report published in the South China Morning Post today.

The expansion reflects the rapid growth of China's robotics industry.

China's industrial robot production rose 27 per cent year on year to 91,088 units in January and February, while service robot output climbed 36 p...