China is by far the largest robotics market in the world. As part of the "Third Plenum", the third plenary session of the National Congress of the Communist Party, the government has set a new course for the country's economic policy. In order to prepare for the new round of industrial transformation, robots are to be used as a growth engine. "China's rapid development in automation with industrial robots is extraordinary," says Marina Bill, President of the IFR. "Two years ago, the country's operational stock exceeded the 1.5 million mark - an international record." The installation of 290,258 industrial robots in 2022 alone corresponds to a global market share of 52% for China.

Electrical and electronics industry currently the biggest driver

Domestic and foreign robot manufacturers have set up production facilities in China to meet the high demand. These capacities are being continuously expanded.

Enormous investments in the automotive industry have boosted demand very strongly since 2010. China has become both the world's largest car market and the world's largest production base for cars - including electric cars - with strong growth potential. The Middle Kingdom is also a major manufacturer of electronic devices, batteries, semiconductors and microchips: since 2016, the electrical and electronics industry has replaced the automotive industry as the main customer and growth driver for industrial robots in China. In addition, various other industries are expanding their capacities with the help of advanced automation technology.

The strategy of Chinese robot manufacturers

"So far, the number of robots exported from China has been very limited," says Xiaogang Song, Managing Director and Secretary General of the China Robot Industry Alliance (CRIA). "Chinese robots that are sold abroad have only been around for a few years. According to our statistics, the total number of robots exported is less than 5 percent." Currently, the Chinese domestic market is still the largest single market for Chinese robot manufacturers. This is set to change: "In their search for new markets, Chinese robot companies go wherever there is a demand for their products - just like any other company," says Song.

As a rule, Chinese robotics companies set up their subsidiaries by working with local partners and hiring local employees. It will take time to build trust in the brand through increased technological level and improved services to meet market demands overseas. In some areas, such as machine vision systems or AI applications, Chinese companies have advantages as they meet the requirements of accelerated automation in China's manufacturing sectors. Low production costs or "low cost" are also among the main advantages of Chinese robots.