China is ushering in a new manufacturing era with the rise of "dark factories"—fully automated production plants that operate without human workers or lights, relying entirely on robotics, AI, and smart sensors.
These lights-out factories, driven by the "Made in China 2025" strategy, are designed to boost efficiency and reduce energy use, with major players like Foxconn and BYD already adopting such systems for electronics and EV production.
While the automation surge has helped reduce industrial energy consumption and aligns with China’s carbon neutrality goals, it also raises serious concerns about mass job displacement and social unrest, especially in a country where over 100 million people work in manufacturing.
As China pushes forward with state-backed innovation and investment, the global race in automation intensifies, challenging other countries to keep up while balancing economic progress with the needs of displaced workers and environmental sustainability.
