New Delhi, May 12 -- For auto component makers facing risks from the rise of electric vehicles and looming US tariffs, a new potential market is emerging: humanoid robots.

Manufacturers of engine components and transmissions to brake assemblies can diversify into making parts for robots that look and function like humans.

"There are companies which have already started making humanoid robots," said Rohit Nanda, group chief financial Officer at Sona Comstar, which announced its foray into the segment on 30 April. "About 50% of the bill of materials of such robots are products which we make for other applications like motors, drives, gears,etc."

The use of robots in scientific research to factories is expected to explode over the next de...