Robot orders in North America remained largely unchanged in the first quarter of 2025, according to data released by the Association for Advancing Automation (A3). Companies ordered 9,064 units valued at $580.7 million, reflecting a 0.4% increase in units and a 15% increase in value compared to the same period in 2024. The rise in order value suggests a continued shift toward higher-cost automation systems, even as overall volumes remained stable.
A3 is set to present the full quarterly report during Automate 2025, which runs from May 12 to 15 in Detroit. The tradeshow is the largest automation event in North America and serves as the platform for releasing detailed insights into the robotics market.
Growth in Q1 2025 was largely driven by increased demand from automotive original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), which ordered 3,668 units worth $263 million. This marks a 42% rise in unit volume and a 78% increase in value compared to Q1 2024. The figures indicate expanded adoption of higher-value robotic systems in automotive production. In contrast, orders from automotive component suppliers declined 29% in unit volume and 12% in value, totaling 1,407 units and $88 million.
Outside the automotive sector, most industries experienced reduced demand. Notably, the plastics and rubber industry recorded a 12% increase in unit orders and a 33% rise in value, making it the exception among non-automotive segments. Industries such as food and consumer goods, metals, and semiconductors reported year-over-year declines in both volume and value.
The first quarter also marked the introduction of collaborative robot (cobot) data into A3’s official reporting. This represents the first industry-wide dataset on cobot adoption in North America. In Q1 2025, 1,052 cobots were ordered, valued at $39.2 million. These systems comprised 11.6% of all units and 6.8% of total robot order value. The highest demand for cobots came from sectors emphasizing human-robot collaboration, including life sciences, food and consumer goods, and a range of other industries. In each of these segments, cobots represented over 20% of total robot demand.
While overall market activity was mixed, A3 noted that long-term structural factors—such as labor shortages, reshoring strategies, and digital transformation initiatives—continue to support automation investment.
