According to the latest data from the International Federation of Robotics (IFR), the installation of industrial robots in the United States in 2023 reached a staggering 44,303 units, an increase of 12% year-on-year. This wave of automation is changing the landscape of American manufacturing at a rapid pace.

IFR President Marina Bill said: “The United States has one of the most advanced manufacturing industries in the world. Preliminary results from the IFR, published for the first time, show that demand for robots will remain strong in 2023 across all major sectors of U.S. manufacturing.”

The automotive industry is the largest application area for industrial robots, followed by the electrical and electronics industry. The following is the preliminary data on the US industrial robot market in 2023:

PSI63C0.100-L1  The automotive industry set a new high in the number of industrial robots installed in 2023, reaching 14,678 units, up 1% from 2022. This growth brings the market share of automotive and parts manufacturers to 33 percent of all industrial robot installations in the United States. The United States ranks second in global production of cars and light vehicles, behind China. IFR President Marina Bill said automakers are currently investing mainly in robotics to drive the transition to electric vehicles and cope with labor shortages.

In the electrical and electronics industry, the installation of industrial robots in 2023 increased by 37 percent to 5,120 units, almost reaching the pre-pandemic record level of 2018. This increase accounts for 12 percent of all industrial robot installations in U.S. manufacturing. The demand for industrial robots in the industry is influenced by the trend to strengthen domestic supply chains and drive clean energy transition projects.

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Other industries with more than 3,000 industrial robot installations in the U.S. include metals and machinery (4,123 units, up 6 percent) and plastics and chemical products (3,213 units, up 5 percent). These two industries will account for 9% and 7% of U.S. industrial robot installations, respectively, in 2023.

PSI63C0.100-L1  These data show that in addition to the automotive industry and the electrical and electronics industry, the metal and machinery industry, as well as the plastic and chemical products industry are also important areas of industrial robot application in the United States. The increased demand for industrial robots in these industries reflects the trend toward automation and intelligence in the U.S. manufacturing industry. With the continuous advancement of technology and the reduction of costs, it is expected that more industries will adopt industrial robots in the future to improve production efficiency and reduce costs.

Robot installations in Canada reached 4,616 units, an increase of 43%. The automotive industry accounts for 55 percent of robot installations in the country. In 2023, robot sales in the automotive industry increased by 99%, with 2,549 robots installed, a record high. Robot installations in Mexico’s manufacturing sector remained virtually unchanged in 2023 at 5,868 units. The main adopter in the country is the automotive industry, which accounted for 69% of robot installations in 2023: sales in 2023 reached 4,068 units (unchanged from 2022), the third best result since the peak of 4,805 units in 2017.