The US automotive industry has ramped up its investment in automation, with industrial robot installations increasing by 10.7% in 2024 to reach 13,700 units, according to preliminary data released by the International Federation of Robotics (IFR).
The IFR has reported that the US automotive sector remains among the most automated globally, ranking fifth in robot-to-worker density. This puts the country on par with Japan and Germany, and ahead of China, which has seen rapid growth in its own automation capabilities.
While automotive continues to dominate US industrial robot usage—accounting for 40% of all new installations in 2024—other sectors have seen more modest uptake.
The metal and machinery industry installed 3,800 units, 11% of the total, followed by the electrical and electronics industry with 2,900 units, representing 9% of the market.
Despite strong performance in automotive, the US ranks only tenth globally in overall manufacturing automation, with a robot density of 295 units per 10,000 employees.
In comparison, China has risen to third place, with 470 robots per 10,000 employees, overtaking both Germany and Japan in 2023.
China’s rapid advancement is attributed to a national robotics strategy that has supported widespread deployment across its manufacturing base. Between 2021 and 2023, Chinese manufacturers installed approximately 280,000 robots annually.
This contrasts with 34,300 total installations recorded in the US for 2024.
Much of the US’s robotic infrastructure remains dependent on foreign suppliers.
Currently, 70% of all industrial robots are produced by four countries: Japan, China, Germany and South Korea. Japan remains the largest producer, though Chinese manufacturers have seen particularly dynamic growth, more than tripling production between 2019 and 2023.
The IFR’s findings highlight both the progress and limitations of US automation, particularly when benchmarked against global competitors investing in broader manufacturing modernisation.
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