Tesla and XPENG Are Taking Humanoid Robots to the Factory: 3 ETFs to Watch as Production Scales

The humanoid robotics race is shifting from proving the technology works to proving it can be built at scale. XPENG launched an automated line where robots assemble other robots, while Tesla, Inc. (NASDAQ:TSLA) has reportedly ordered components for roughly 5,000 Optimus units, according to Chinese supply-chain reports.

These moves could push investor attention beyond pure AI software and toward the hardware ecosystem needed to build humanoids—including actuators, sensors, semiconductors, and precision machinery.

That makes three dedicated ETFs particularly interesting.

BOTT Bet

The Themes Humanoid Robotics ETF (NASDAQ:BOTT) tracks an index of companies spanning factory automation equipment, semiconductors and industrial machine components. The fund has 43 holdings and $62.4 million in assets, with a 0.35% expense ratio.

Its largest positions include Rainbow Robotics, Nvidia Corp (NASDAQ:NVDA), Ecovacs Robotics, Palladyne AI Corp (NASDAQ:PDYN), Yujin Robot and Teradyne Inc (NASDAQ:TER), while Tesla accounts for 4.58%.

That gives BOTT exposure not just to robot makers but to the machinery and technology required to build them.

KOID Thinks Beyond the Bot

The KraneShares Global Humanoid Robotics and Physical AI Index ETF (NASDAQ:KOID) takes an even broader approach. KraneShares divides the opportunity into the robot’s "brain," "body" and the companies integrating and manufacturing the machines.

KOID has $332.5 million in net assets and a 0.79% gross expense ratio. Its top holdings included Hexagon, Rainbow Robotics, Magna International, Mp Materials Corp (NYSE:MP) and Nvidia.

KOID has returned 14% year to date.

HUMN: A Direct Play

The Roundhill Humanoid Robotics ETF (BATS:HUMN) is actively managed and focuses specifically on companies developing and manufacturing humanoid robots. It has $94.4 million in assets.

Tesla is its largest equity position at 6%, followed by Yushu Technology, Harmonic Drive Systems, UBTECH Robotics and Rainbow Robotics. Nvidia accounted for 3.06%.

The bigger opportunity is still speculative. But if Tesla and XPENG’s moves signal the beginning of a manufacturing race, the winners may not be limited to the companies putting their names on the robots. The suppliers building the brains, joints, sensors and factories could have an equally important role.

That is precisely where BOTT, KOID and HUMN offer investors a way to play the emerging factory boom.

Photo: Giovanni Cancemi / Shutterstock