BEIJING: China registered around 55,000 new companies in the generative artificial intelligence (AI) sector during the first half of 2026, underlining the rapid expansion of frontier technologies and growing entrepreneurial activity in emerging industries.
According to data released by China’s State Administration for Market Regulation, the number of newly established generative AI companies increased by 28 per cent year-on-year between January and June.
The figures came as China witnessed a mixed trend across emerging industries, with some companies exiting sectors such as new energy vehicles, photovoltaic products and lithium batteries, while businesses in newer technology fields continued to expand.
The regulator said 7,632 companies linked to the new energy vehicle sector were deregistered during the first six months of the year, representing a 4.6 per cent increase from the same period last year.
Similarly, 5,089 photovoltaic-related companies were deregistered, up 8.3 per cent year-on-year, while 155 lithium battery firms exited the market, an increase of 12.3 per cent.
Despite these closures, China’s frontier technology industries continued to attract substantial business activity. The rapid growth of generative AI companies reflects increasing interest in technologies expected to play a significant role in the country’s future economic development.
The humanoid robotics industry also recorded significant expansion. Some 116,000 new companies were registered in the sector during the first half of the year, marking a 9.5 per cent increase compared with the same period in 2025.
The regulator said the expansion of generative AI, humanoid robotics and other emerging industries highlighted sustained investment and entrepreneurial activity in sectors that are increasingly viewed as potential new drivers of economic growth.
China’s high-tech manufacturing sector also maintained its expansion during the period. By the end of June, the country had approximately 330,000 high-tech manufacturing enterprises, with 15,000 new firms established during the first six months of the year.
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Several specialised manufacturing segments recorded particularly strong growth. New companies involved in spacecraft and launch vehicle manufacturing increased by 185.7 per cent year-on-year.
The optical fibre and cable manufacturing sector recorded a 129.4 per cent increase in new company registrations, while the number of newly established integrated circuit manufacturing companies rose by 24.2 per cent.
The latest figures point to a continuing shift in China’s business landscape, with investment increasingly flowing towards artificial intelligence, robotics, advanced manufacturing and other high-technology industries.
At the same time, the restructuring and deregistration of businesses in more established new-energy sectors suggest that companies are being reshaped as competition intensifies and market conditions evolve.
