North American robot orders rose 6.6 percent in 2025, reflecting strong investment in automation across a growing range of industries, according to the most recent report from the Association for Advancing Automation (A3) in Ann Arbor.
Companies ordered 36,766 robots valued at $2.25 billion last year. Compared to 2024, the numbers represent a 6.6 percent increase in units ordered and a 10.1 percent boost in revenue.
Robot demand from non-automotive customers outpaced orders from their automotive industry counterparts in 2025, with general industries capturing the majority share of units acquired throughout the year.
Industries such as food and consumer goods, semiconductors and electronics, and life sciences all contributed to the momentum. While automotive component orders remained below 2024 levels, activity from automotive OEMs showed meaningful improvement.
The uptick from major vehicle manufacturers may signal stabilization in core automotive markets heading into 2026.
In the fourth quarter of 2025, companies ordered 10,325 robots valued at $579 million. These figures represent a 6.6 percent increase in units and an 8.7 percent rise in revenue compared to Q4 2024, using adjusted comparisons from matched reporting companies. This marks the sixth consecutive quarter of year-over-year growth and lifted annual totals to their highest level since 2022.
Collaborative robots, or co-bots, continued their upward trajectory, according to the report, accounting for 28.6 percent of all robots ordered in Q4 2025 and 14.7 percent of quarterly revenue. The totals show 2,953 units valued at $85 million, the highest quarterly volume recorded since A3 began reporting collaborative robot as a distinct category in Q1 2025.
Across the full year, collaborative robot orders totaled 7,212 units valued at $241 million — 19.6 percent of total robots ordered in 2025 and 10.7 percent of total revenue, underscoring the growing importance of collaborative systems as part of modern automation strategies, according to A3.
“The rebound in robot orders over the course of 2025 reflects renewed confidence in automation as a long-term solution to competitive pressures,” says 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 points 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.”
In Related News: The latest in robotics, vision, AI, motion control, and more will be on display at Automate 2026, North America’s largest automation showcase, taking place June 22-25 in Chicago. For more information, visit automate.org.
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