Robot orders in North America rose in 2025, reflecting increased investment in automation across a wider range of industries beyond automotive manufacturing. Data from the Association for Advancing Automation show that companies ordered 36,766 robots during the year, with a total value of $2.25 billion. Compared with 2024, unit orders increased by 6.6 percent, while the value of orders rose by 10.1 percent.
Growth was driven primarily by general industry customers, whose robot demand exceeded that of automotive customers over the course of the year. Orders from sectors including food and consumer goods, semiconductors and electronics, and life sciences accounted for a majority of total units. While orders for automotive components remained below prior-year levels, activity from automotive original equipment manufacturers improved during the year, contributing to overall market growth.
The fourth quarter provided a strong finish, with 10,325 robots ordered at a value of $579 million. Compared with the same period a year earlier, units increased by 6.6 percent and revenue by 8.7 percent, based on adjusted comparisons from companies that consistently reported data. The quarter marked the sixth consecutive period of year-over-year growth and brought annual totals to their highest level since 2022.
Collaborative robots represented an increasing share of the market. In the fourth quarter, collaborative systems accounted for 28.6 percent of units ordered and 14.7 percent of revenue, totaling 2,953 robots valued at $85 million. For the full year, collaborative robot orders reached 7,212 units valued at $241 million, representing 19.6 percent of all robots ordered and 10.7 percent of total revenue.
“The rebound in robot orders over the course of 2025 reflects renewed confidence in automation as a long-term solution to competitive pressures,” said Alex Shikany, Executive Vice President at A3. “We’re seeing increasing adoption across sectors, especially in general industry applications and at automotive OEMs, as manufacturers look to automation to address workforce shortages, manage reshoring initiatives, and boost productivity.”
Shikany also pointed to the significance of Q4 trends. “Automotive OEMs came back strong in the second half of the year, which often serves as a leading indicator for growth in supplier and component markets. Combined with steady demand across food, electronics, and other non-automotive industries, this points to a positive outlook for 2026.”
