Robot Rental Prices Fall Below 1,000 Yuan a Day as Novelty Fades

During China's National Day holiday, robot rentals saw a concentrated surge in demand. Shopping districts, cultural tourism sites, brand pop-up stores, and exhibition venues across the country brought in robots for interactive greeting, dance performances, and visitor guidance. Several platforms reported full booking schedules a week before the holiday began.

After the holiday peak passed, rental prices fell sharply. The overall market rate has declined markedly, with daily rents dropping from a peak of 10,000 yuan in early last year to under 1,000 yuan. The retreat indicates that the novelty dividend for robots is fading rapidly. Rental providers that expanded fleets for holiday events now face softer demand, and the industry is under pressure to prove durable value beyond short-term spectacle.

Whether robots can move from one-off holiday attractions to routine operations will determine if the rental market stabilizes.