After Cutting 3,460 Jobs, Century-Old Giant Bets on Chinese Humanoid Robots

The company confirmed the reduction of 3,460 positions as part of a broader restructuring aimed at lowering costs and refocusing on high-growth areas. Its attention is now on China’s fast-maturing humanoid robot ecosystem, where suppliers, startups and local governments are accelerating commercial pilots. For the century-old manufacturer, the move signals a strategic pivot: rather than relying solely on traditional industrial automation, it aims to leverage Chinese supply-chain strength and engineering talent in embodied AI. The bet remains early-stage, but it highlights how legacy industrial players are using China’s humanoid robot momentum to offset weakness in core businesses. The layoffs underscore pressure on legacy manufacturers to find new engines of growth.