Robot Orders Grew 6.6% in 2025 as Non-Automotive Demand Increased
North American robot orders increased in 2025 as manufacturers across non-automotive sectors continued to invest in automation. According to new data from the Association for Advancing Automation (A3), companies ordered 36,766 robots valued at $2.25 billion, representing a 6.6% increase in units and a 10.1% rise in revenue compared to 2024.
Demand from non-automotive industries outpaced automotive orders throughout 2025, with food and consumer goods, electronics and semiconductors, and life sciences driving much of the growth. While robot orders for automotive components remained below 2024 levels, automotive OEM activity improved in the second half of the year, showing potential stabilization heading into 2026.
The year ended strongly with Q4 orders totaling 10,325 robots worth $579 million, up 6.6% in units and 8.7% in revenue year over year. This marks the sixth consecutive quarter of growth and has pushed annual robot orders to their highest level since 2022.
Collaborative robots continued to gain ground, accounting for 28.6% of all robot orders and 14.7% of quarterly revenue. In Q4 2025, there were 2,953 cobots ordered, valued at $85 million, which is the highest quarterly cobot volume ever recorded. For the full year, 7,212 units were ordered, which is 19.6% of all robot purchases and 10.7% for the entire year, showing clear growth in cobots and their roles in modern automation strategies.
"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."
The late-year rebound among automotive OEMs could also signal broader growth for supplier and component markets in 2026, especially as non-automotive demand remains steady.
About the Author
Laura Davis
Editor-in-Chief, New Equipment Digest
Laura Davis is the editor in chief of New Equipment Digest (NED), a brand part of the Manufacturing Group at EndeavorB2B. NED covers all products, equipment, solutions, and technology related to the broad scope of manufacturing, from mops and buckets to robots and automation. Laura has been a manufacturing product writer for eight years, knowledgeable about the ins and outs of the industry, along with what readers are looking for when wanting to learn about the latest products on the market.