The North American robotics industry reported continued growth in the first half of 2025, with both robot orders and revenue showing year-on-year increases, according to new data from the Association for Advancing Automation (A3).
Companies across the region ordered 17,635 robots between January and June, valued at US$1.094bn. This represents a 4.3% rise in unit orders and a 7.5% increase in revenue compared with the same period in 2024.
The figures suggest a strengthening commitment to automation, despite ongoing economic uncertainty.
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The automotive sector led the gains, with original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) increasing orders by 34% year-on-year.
Other key sectors contributing to the growth included plastics and rubber (up 9%) and life sciences, pharmaceuticals, and biomedical industries (up 8%).
A3 attributed these trends to reshoring efforts, labour shortages, as well as a broader push for operational efficiency.
Second-quarter data shows continued momentum, with 8,571 robots ordered in Q2 2025, worth US$513m. This is a 9% increase in unit orders compared with Q2 2024.
Life sciences posted the strongest sector growth during the quarter at 22%, followed by semiconductors, electronics, and photonics at 18%.
“The continued growth in robot orders underscores what we’ve been hearing from our members: automation is now central to long-term business strategy,” said Alex Shikany, Executive Vice President at A3.
“It’s not just about efficiency anymore. It’s about building resilience, improving flexibility, and staying competitive in a rapidly changing global market.”
Collaborative robots (cobots) also made notable gains, with 3,085 units ordered in the first half of the year, valued at US$114m. In Q2, cobots accounted for nearly a quarter (23.7%) of all units ordered and 14.7% of revenue.
For Q2, non-automotive sectors overtook automotive in total unit orders, accounting for 56% of the market.
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