Ever heard of “dark factories”? These dark factories in China are currently causing a stir in the tech world. China is at the forefront of fully automated production facilities where work is carried out without human labor or lighting.

What are these dark factories?

“Dark factories” are production sites where machines take over every aspect of production, from assembly and inspection to logistics. Without human labor, there is no need for lighting or heating. This leads to an enormous increase in efficiency and a reduction in costs. 

China’s rapid introduction of automation

In 2015, China launched its “Made in China 2025” initiative to transform the country into a high-tech manufacturing powerhouse. The strategy behind it is simple but very effective: the focus of investment is on robotics, AI expansion and automated production facilities. The Chinese government is supporting the financing with subsidies and the provision of the necessary infrastructure. Several Chinese companies are pioneering the “dark factories” revolution. In 2016, for example, Foxconn replaced 60,000 human workers with robots in a factory in Kunshan. By the end of 2025, 30% of all production is to be fully automated. Xiaomi has invested the equivalent of around 330 million dollars in an 81,000 square meter facility that can produce one smartphone per second in fully automated processes.

It is clear that 24/7 uninterrupted operation achieves higher productivity and significantly reduces costs (less expenditure on energy and wages). Another notable advantage of dark factories is that human workers no longer have to be exposed to hazardous working environments or substances such as toxins or chemicals. Another important point when mentioning the advantages of dark factories is the improved precision in production processes. A fully automated robot is designed and programmed to perform the same processes over and over again, which means that its error rate may be lower than that of a human. 

While “dark factories” offer numerous advantages, they also raise considerable concerns. A particular focus is on the threat of job losses for around 100 million people in China who work in production facilities. Dark factories could therefore exacerbate unemployment and lead to social unrest. Another important aspect is the question of the role of humans in the workplace and the consequences of transferring decision-making processes to machines.

The future of dark factories in China

As of March 2025, dark factories in China are still in pilot phases, particularly in high-tech sectors such as electronics and electric vehicle manufacturing. The Chinese government is actively supporting this transition through initiatives and retraining programs for workers and promoting the development of skills in AI, robot maintenance and data science.

China’s rapid progress in automation has intensified global competition. Especially in the field of robotics, China is way ahead. In 2023, 1.4 billion dollars have been invested in robotics research and development. It is expected that the technologies behind these “dark factories” will be improved in the coming years and will therefore be used more and more. The question arises as to whether China might set new global standards for efficient production processes?