Jinki-Ittai Scouts Indian Manufacturing Partners at Coimbatore Trade Show

The Tokyo-based humanoid robotics firm is using INTEC 2026 in Coimbatore as a sourcing venue for contract manufacturers capable of scaling production beyond Japan's constrained industrial base. The move follows a growing pattern of robotics companies seeking lower-cost Asian production partners as humanoid platforms transition from research projects to commercial products requiring five- and six-figure annual unit volumes.

Catalyst Brands will deploy Figure's humanoid robots at its Reno facility handling fulfillment for JCPenney and other retailers. The agreement marks one of the first production-scale commercial contracts for Figure AI outside its automotive partnerships. Terms were not disclosed, but deployment is expected to begin in Q2 2025.

Manufacturing output will expand to $968.7 billion within six years, propelled by medical device fabrication and renewable energy component production, according to new market research. The forecast centers on industrial robotics adoption, AI-driven quality control systems, and cloud-based production management platforms now entering volume deployment across automotive, electronics, and pharmaceutical sectors.

Outsourced drone operations are gaining traction across industrial sectors as companies seek to reduce capital expenditure while accessing advanced autonomous capabilities. Market analysts project the Drones-as-a-Service sector will reach multi-billion dollar valuations by decade's end, driven by demand in infrastructure inspection, logistics, and precision agriculture. The shift reflects broader acceptance of robotics-as-a-service business models that transfer operational risk from end users to specialized providers.

Milrem Robotics and VDL Defentec have commissioned a dedicated THeMIS unmanned ground vehicle production facility in Born, Netherlands, delivering the first units destined for Ukrainian forces. The manufacturing partnership marks a shift from Estonia-based production to a European dual-source strategy as demand for combat-tested UGV platforms accelerates across NATO member states.

The AI-native ground robotics startup closed a $10.2 million seed round led by Ace Capital Partners. Shifters designs autonomous systems for hazardous environments, positioning itself in the defense and industrial sectors where human safety remains the primary constraint. The funding arrives as the broader autonomous ground vehicle market consolidates around proven use cases in security and inspection.