Midea
Midea Group is a Chinese home appliance and industrial technology company headquartered in Beijiao, Shunde, Foshan in Guangdong province. It was founded in 1968 by He Xiangjian and is led by chairman and chief executive Fang Hongbo (Paul Fang). Midea makes air conditioners, refrigerators, washing machines and kitchen appliances sold worldwide, and owns the German industrial robot maker KUKA, which it took over in 2017. Midea has been developing humanoid robots for several years, and on 5 December 2025 it unveiled MIRO U, the third generation of its humanoid programme and what it calls the world's first six-armed wheel-leg humanoid. MIRO U has six fully actuated bionic limbs that can perform three tasks at once, with its lower limbs handling heavy lifting and its upper limbs doing precise assembly and fastening, on a wheeled base that rotates 360 degrees. Midea says MIRO U can raise production line efficiency by 30 percent, and it began pilot testing at Midea's Wuxi factory in December 2025.
π‘Notable Achievement: Midea unveiled MIRO U, which it calls the first six-armed wheel-leg humanoid, on 5 December 2025 and began piloting it at its Wuxi factory that month.
What Does Midea Do?
Midea is a Foshan appliance group and owner of KUKA that unveiled MIRO U, a six-armed humanoid for factory work.
βSix arms to do more work per robot.β
MIRO U
Three tasks at once with six actuated limbs.
KUKA
Midea owns the German robot maker since 2017.
Own Factories
Pilot began at the Wuxi plant.
What Can Midea Robots Actually Do?
Cross-portfolio operational capabilities, manipulation tasks, and environmental competencies
Multi-arm factory assembly.
Multi-Arm Assembly
Lower limbs lift while upper limbs assemble.
Midea Robots
Showing 1 Humanoid Robots of 1 total model
Miro U
Manufactured by Midea
Miro U is a cutting-edge humanoid robot designed by Midea for complex industrial automation tasks. It features a unique six-arm bionic mechanical design combined with a wheeled leg chassis, enabling multitasking and high-precision control in factory environments. The robot supports vertical lifting and 360-degree in-place rotation, allowing it to perform multi-dimensional operations efficiently. Miro U is intended to enhance production line flexibility and efficiency, particularly in high-end manufacturing such as washing machine assembly. It integrates fast end-effector switching for diverse tasks and is part of Mideaβs broader AI-driven smart factory ecosystem, aiming to boost operational efficiency by up to 30%. The robot represents the third generation in Mideaβs humanoid lineup, combining advanced robotics with AI for industrial applications.
MideaTimeline & Milestones
Evolutionary history, landmark prototypes, major acquisitions, and commercial roadmap
Midea founded by He Xiangjian
He Xiangjian founds Midea in Shunde, Guangdong, which grows into a global appliance maker.
Source: en.wikipedia.org
Takeover of KUKA completed
Midea completes its takeover of German industrial robot maker KUKA.
Source: en.wikipedia.org
MIRO U pilot at Wuxi factory
Midea begins pilot testing MIRO U at its Wuxi factory, targeting a 30 percent gain in production line efficiency.
Source: gizmochina.com
MIRO U six-armed humanoid unveiled
Midea unveils MIRO U, a six-armed wheel-leg humanoid for factory work, at the Greater Bay Area New Economy Forum.
Source: scmp.com
Midea Competitors by Category
Direct industry rivals grouped by specific robotics domain
ABB Robotics
Industry PeerModel: YuMi Dual-Arm
Focus: Dual-arm small parts assembly
Yaskawa Motoman
Industry PeerModel: SDA10D
Focus: Dual-arm industrial articulated robot
What Makes Midea Different?
Editorial AnalysisOrigin of Bots objective strategic assessment, engineering moats, and commercial hurdles
Key Strengths & Moats
- βKUKA expertise.
- βOwn factories for testing.
Core Strategic Focus
Proving 30 percent efficiency gains.
Road Ahead & Challenges
- β’No external sales or price.
- β’Pilot stage.
Midea vs Key Competitors
Strategic capability matrix across platform categories, commercial readiness, and target markets
| Strategic Dimension | Midea MIRO U | ABB YuMi | Yaskawa SDA20D |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arm Count | 6 Synchronized Arms | 2 Coordinated Arms | 2 Coordinated Arms |
| Throughput Improvement | +30% Workstation Boost | Standard Assembly Baseline | Standard Assembly Baseline |
| Motion Controller | KUKA Industrial / Midea AI | ABB IRC5 / OmniCore | Yaskawa DX200 |
Corporate Ecosystem & Ownership Structure
Parent company relationships, historical acquisitions, and global operating facilities
Articles & Industry News
Showing 1 recent article and news updates about Midea
Frequently Asked Questions
8 AnswersVerified answers, company specifications, and deployment details about Midea
What is Midea MIRO U?
MIRO U is Midea's six-armed wheel-leg humanoid robot, unveiled on 5 December 2025. Its six limbs can perform three tasks at once on factory production lines.
What is MIRO U used for?
MIRO U is built for factory work. Its lower limbs handle heavy lifting while its upper limbs do precise assembly and fastening, and Midea says it can raise line efficiency by 30 percent.
Why does Midea's robot have six arms?
Midea designed MIRO U with six arms to go beyond copying the human form, letting one robot perform several tasks at once and improve efficiency in industrial settings.
Where is MIRO U being tested?
Midea began pilot testing MIRO U at its own factory in Wuxi, Jiangsu province, in December 2025, to measure the gain in production line efficiency that the six-armed robot can deliver.
Does Midea own KUKA?
Yes. Midea completed its takeover of the German industrial robot maker KUKA in 2017, giving it major industrial robotics expertise.
How much does MIRO U cost?
Midea has not published a price for MIRO U. It is being piloted in Midea's own factories rather than sold to outside customers.
Who is the CEO of Midea?
Midea is led by Fang Hongbo, also known as Paul Fang, its chairman and chief executive. The company was founded in 1968 by He Xiangjian.
Where is Midea headquartered?
Midea Group is headquartered in Beijiao, Shunde District, Foshan, in Guangdong province, China, and sells appliances worldwide and owns the German robot maker KUKA.
Verified Data & Editorial Assurance
Compiled from verified corporate filings, official Midea datasheets, and robotics engineering registries. Information has been verified against official manufacturer documentation. For commercial procurement or proprietary integrations, contact the manufacturer directly.