China’s Second-Largest Automaker Moves into Embodied AI with ByteDance Partnership
Two Giants Worth Over $100 Billion Join Forces in Embodied AI
Seres — now ranked second among carmakers by market value — has been quietly investing in embodied AI for some time. In a recent official announcement, the company revealed its latest strategic move.
This time, instead of collaborating with its well-known “big brother” Huawei, Seres has partnered with another tech powerhouse familiar to the public — ByteDance.
While this may appear to be Seres’ first clear public step into embodied AI, in reality, preparations in robotics began two years ago.
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The Latest Cooperation Announcement
Seres stated that its wholly owned subsidiary, Chongqing Phoenix Technology Co., Ltd. (“Chongqing Phoenix”), has signed a preliminary cooperation agreement with Beijing Volcano Engine Technology Co., Ltd., a ByteDance subsidiary.
About the Partners
- Chongqing Phoenix: Focuses on intelligent robot R&D, manufacturing, and sales.
- Volcano Engine (founded 2020): Specializes in AI, cloud computing, and data services; parent company ByteDance is valued at over USD 330 billion.
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Cooperation Framework
The collaboration will follow a “technology R&D + scenario validation” model, centered on:
> Multi-modal cloud–edge collaborative intelligent robot decision-making, control, and human–machine augmentation technology.
In practical terms:
- ByteDance / Volcano Engine: Provide AI algorithms, computing power, and multi-modal models.
- Seres / Chongqing Phoenix: Supply industry-specific application scenarios, test environments, and deployment into automotive and robot products.
Note:
This is only a framework agreement — essentially a letter of intent — with no impact expected on 2025 financial results.
Specific project details, budgets, and scope will be announced after formal contracts are signed.
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Why Seres Is Moving into Embodied AI
The announcement cites two key reasons:
- Responding to the national “AI+” policy — integrating AI more deeply with the real economy.
- Strategic long-term planning — investing early in frontier technologies for smart vehicles and smart manufacturing.
In truth, Seres has been building toward embodied AI for years.
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Seres' Embodied AI Timeline
By late 2023, industry watchers noticed Seres advancing along three main strategic lines.
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1. Creating Entities & Brands
- Dec 2023: Partnered with Chongqing Municipal Finance Bureau to establish Chongqing Seres Phoenix Zhichuang Technology for robotics business.
- Sep 2024: Registered “ROBOREX” trademark — widely believed to be Seres’ future robot product brand.
- Mar 17, 2024: Established Chongqing Phoenix Technology.
- Late Mar 2024: Co-founded Beijing Saihang Embodied Intelligence Technology Co., Ltd. with Beihang University, focusing on intelligent robot R&D; Seres holds 70% via Chongqing Phoenix.
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2. Recruiting Embodied AI Talent
Since mid-2024, job postings have included:
- Embodied Intelligence Control Engineers
- Embedded Software Developers
- Embodied Intelligence Large Model Engineers (first seen in 2024 spring campus recruitment)
- Embodied Intelligence Large Model Algorithm Engineers (appeared in autumn recruitment)
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3. Strategic Cooperation with External Partners
Collaborations with:
- Chongqing Municipal Finance Bureau
- Beihang University
- ByteDance / Volcano Engine (latest agreement)
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Industry Context: Automakers Racing into Embodied Intelligence
Many Chinese automakers are pursuing embodied AI, using two main strategies:
A. Self-Research & Development
- GAC: GoSide, GoMove, GoMate humanoid robot family
- XPeng: PX5 and Iron robots
- Xiaomi: CyberOne & CyberDog ("Iron Egg")
B. Investment & Partnerships
- BYD and SAIC → Invested in Zhiyuan Robotics
- Changan → Partnered with Haier Group
- Chery → Co-developed Moxia humanoid robot "Moyin" with Aimoga — first batch delivered this year, sales to individuals beginning soon
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Automakers’ Natural Advantages
Smart cars are essentially robots on wheels — equipped with:
- Arrays of sensors
- Powerful computing platforms
- Expertise in intelligent driving, environmental perception, and decision-making — directly applicable to humanoid robotics.
Given the fierce competition in automotive manufacturing, many carmakers are searching for a second growth curve.
Humanoid robots — dubbed the next trillion-level track — present a natural expansion opportunity with massive potential.
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Case Study: Seres’ Transformation
Years ago, Seres (then Chongqing Sokon) was struggling.
Deep cooperation with Huawei helped it recover and grow — boosting market value from ~20 billion RMB to over 270 billion RMB today — a nearly 12× rise.
Currently, Seres is the second most valuable domestic carmaker (after BYD).
With a bold entry into embodied intelligence, Seres is redefining itself beyond traditional automotive manufacturing.
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Final Thoughts: Time to Reassess Seres?
The convergence of intelligent vehicles and humanoid robotics signals a new industry frontier.
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Platforms that merge AI innovation with real-world deployment could play a vital role in taking embodied AI systems to market — faster and at scale.
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Summary:
Seres’ embodied AI plans are deliberate, multi-year in the making, and aligned with industry trends.
Their partnership with ByteDance demonstrates the blending of tech innovation and manufacturing expertise, creating a blueprint other automakers may follow.
It’s worth watching whether this marks the start of Seres’ next era of growth.
