Investments in automation for the automobile business in Europe stay excessive, in line with the Worldwide Federation of Robotics, or IFR. The whole variety of industrial robots put in reached 23,000 in 2024, which is the second-best lead to 5 years, mentioned the group immediately.
“The European automotive sector is the area’s strongest buyer business for robotics,” mentioned Takayuki Ito, president of the IFR. “Automotive makers are accounting for round a 3rd of annual manufacturing installations in Europe. When it comes to automation exercise, the mixed variety of 23,000 European robotic installations within the automobile sector was forward of the 19,200 items put in in North America in 2024.”
Final month, the IFR reported that U.S. automakers have additionally been investing extra in automation. It mentioned whole installations of industrial robots within the automotive business elevated by 10.7%, reaching 13,700 items in 2024.
Nevertheless, whereas the U.S. is putting in extra robots, it isn’t producing most of them. The vast majority of these robots come from abroad. Globally, 70% of installations are produced by 4 nations: Japan, China, Germany, and South Korea, the IFR mentioned.
Switzerland leads the best way in Europe robotic density
At a world stage, Europe’s automobile manufacturing is very automated, the IFR mentioned. Six nations on the continent have been among the many high 10 on this planet’s robotic density rating for the automotive business in 2023. Switzerland was in first place, with a ratio of three,876 robots to 10,000 manufacturing unit staff.
Slovenia was in third place with 1,762 items, Germany was in sixth at 1,492 items, and Austria was eighth with 1,412 items. Finland got here in ninth with 1,288 items, and the Benelux nations have been in tenth place with 1,132 items.
Other than Switzerland, all of those automation champions have been EU member states. The EU27 nations’ main function is obvious not solely within the automotive business, however throughout all sectors, accounting for round 85% of all regional installations in 2024. mentioned the IFR.
Germany, which is among the many high 5 robotic markets on this planet, had a share of about 30% of the overall installations in Europe. Italy adopted with about 10%, and Spain with about 6%. From 2019 to 2024, the compound annual development charge (CAGR) of robots put in in Europe was +3%.
China sees sturdy demand for automation in automotives
China’s nationwide robotics technique has led its manufacturing business to put in a complete of about 280,000 items per yr between 2021 and 2023. In 10 years, the nation‘s world share of business robotic installations has risen from round one-fifth to greater than half of the world’s whole demand, the IFR mentioned.
As well as, robotics and automation are penetrating all ranges of Chinese language manufacturing. For instance, the nation has a excessive robotic density of 470 robots per 10,000 workers in manufacturing, the third highest on this planet, surpassing Germany and Japan in 2023.
China isn’t slowing down anytime quickly. In March 2025, its authorities introduced plans to speculate practically $137 billion in robotics, AI, and innovation over the subsequent 20 years, in line with the IFR. This initiative goals to proceed China’s technology-driven success in manufacturing.
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