Geek+ taps UK labour shortage to expand Chinese warehouse robots
Chinese robotics firm Geek+ has made the UK its largest European market by deploying over 2,000 warehouse robots for major retailers, signalling a major shift in how Britain's logistics sector is tackling a decade-long productivity slump.
Chinese robotics company Geek+ has deployed more than 2,000 autonomous mobile robots across 10 UK warehouse sites for major retailers including Tesco, Asda and Next. The rollout makes Britain the company's largest European market. Geek+, which completed one of 2025's largest robotics share sales in Hong Kong, is the world's largest supplier of this technology.
The rapid adoption is driven by acute operational pressures in the British logistics sector. The UK has suffered from weak productivity growth for over a decade, compounded by a severe labour shortage. A 2026 OECD report on UK SME technology adoption noted that the country's low use of robotics is "surprising" given its manufacturing heritage.
For retailers, the financial calculus is straightforward. Unlike fixed conveyor systems, these autonomous robots require only QR code floor markers and safety fencing to operate. "Customers want fast deployable solutions," says Barry Pemberton, Account Director at MotionTech, Geek+'s UK partner. "They want high volume, high storage, fast picking... ultimately on a smaller footprint with a reduced headcount."
China's EV supply chain advantage
Geek+’s ability to scale stems from China's strategic push to develop "new quality productive forces" under President Xi Jinping. As the country's working-age population shrinks, Beijing is leaning on automation to maintain its manufacturing edge. "The robotics story builds directly on China's electric vehicle ecosystem," says Kyle Chan, a researcher at the Brookings Institution, noting that batteries, motors and sensors are shared across both sectors.
This cross-pollination is attracting heavy investment from Chinese EV makers like XPeng, which unveiled its Iron humanoid robot last year. Founder He Xiaopeng stated the company's intention to evolve beyond cars: "In the future, any car company will transform into a car and robotics company." However, this expanding export push faces headwinds after the US banned imports of new foreign-made advanced robots this week on national security grounds.
The Chinese embassy in Washington criticised the US move as "politicising" trade based on "groundless pretexts". While the US closes its doors, the UK is emerging as a critical testing ground for China's next technology export. Geek+ is now developing end-to-end unmanned warehouse solutions to automate picking, handling and packing.
The eventual shift toward humanoid robots, backed by billions from Chinese firms like AgiBot and Unitree, remains years away because current technology lacks the necessary dexterity. "I don't think [humanoids] will change the landscape of the types of technology or the automation that's going to be put into place," says Pemberton. "They're definitely going to be complementary."
