Qingtian Rent offers robot rentals from $25/day in China, transforming robots into subscription services for businesses. Learn about funding, user growth, and future plans.
© B. Naumkin
China has launched the world's first mass robot rental platform, Qingtian Rent, which allows businesses to rent robots for as little as $25 per day. The service began operating in Shanghai in late December 2025, effectively transforming robots from expensive technological products into a subscription or short-term use service.
The project quickly attracted investor attention. Qingtian Rent secured tens of millions of dollars in early-stage funding. The round was led by Hillhouse Capital, with participation from Fosun and other major players. The funds will be used to scale the platform nationwide, develop digital infrastructure, and establish a standardized service model with trained operators and insurance coverage.
Demand proved unexpectedly high. In less than a month, the platform registered over 200,000 users, with daily rental orders already exceeding 200. Major retail chains and restaurants are using robots to attract customer attention: the machines dance, perform show routines, and create viral effects in stores.
This surge in interest coincides with a sharp rise in the popularity of humanoid robots in media and at mass events, alongside falling rental costs. This has enabled small companies to try robotic solutions for the first time without major investments. Looking ahead, Qingtian Rent anticipates that robots will move beyond entertainment and become actively used in retail, tourism, warehousing, and industry.
The company has already announced a long-term goal: to create a national robot rental network and occupy a niche similar to Didi's role in the taxi market.