On the opening day of CES on Jan. 6 (local time), Arobot’s robot “Alice,” developed by a South Korean robotics company, demonstrates item transportation at the Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC) in Nevada, United States.
SEOUL, Jan. 23 (Korea Bizwire) — Battery stocks, long sidelined by a global slowdown in electric vehicle demand, are staging a sharp comeback in South Korea’s exchange-traded fund market, buoyed by growing investor optimism around the emerging humanoid robot industry.
Data released Friday by Koscom show that battery-related ETFs dominated the top of last week’s performance rankings. Funds tracking advanced battery technologies — including solid-state batteries and silicon anodes — posted gains of more than 30 percent in some cases, while leveraged battery-sector ETFs also delivered double-digit returns.
The rally comes as interest shifts from electric vehicles to robotics, following heightened global attention on humanoid robots showcased at CES 2026. As robots require compact, high-output power sources, next-generation batteries have drawn renewed focus as a potential growth engine for the battery industry.
Analysts say solid-state batteries, in particular, are gaining attention because their high energy density and safety advantages make them well suited for humanoid robots, where space is limited and long operating times are essential. Several global technology companies, including China’s XPeng, are reportedly exploring their use in next-generation robots.
At a Hyundai Motor Group press conference held at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, Nevada, on Jan. 5 (local time), one day ahead of the opening of CES 2026, the humanoid robot Atlas is unveiled. (Yonhap)
ETFs linked directly to robotics and artificial intelligence also recorded strong gains during the same period, reinforcing the theme-driven rally. Automaker-focused ETFs joined the advance, helped by rising shares of Hyundai Motor, which has seen its valuation surge since unveiling its humanoid robot “Atlas” at CES. The company’s market capitalization surpassed 100 trillion won for the first time this week.
Still, analysts caution that robotics-driven battery demand remains modest in the near term. Estimates suggest that battery demand from the robot sector could reach about 12.8 gigawatt-hours by 2030 — less than 1 percent of projected total battery demand — far smaller than consumption from electric vehicles or energy storage systems.
For now, the rebound reflects shifting expectations rather than a structural change in fundamentals, as investors look beyond the current electric vehicle downturn and position for what they see as the next frontier in industrial technology.
Ashley Song (ashley@koreabizwire.com)
