This total of industrial robots in the automotive industry corresponds to around a third of the total number of robots installed across the various sectors, as reported by the International Federation of Robotics (IFR).
"The automotive industry practically invented automated manufacturing," says Marina Bill, President of the IFR. "Today, robots are playing a crucial role in the transition from combustion engines to electric cars. Automation with robots is helping manufacturers to manage fundamental changes in long-established manufacturing methods and technologies."

The robot density illustrates the current degree of automation in the leading economies of the automotive industry.

© International Federation of Robotics

Robot density as a key indicator illustrates the current level of automation in the leading economies of the automotive industry: In South Korea, a total of 2,867 industrial robots were in use per 10,000 employees in 2021. Germany ranks second with 1,500 units, followed by the United States with 1,457 units and Japan with 1,422 units per 10,000 employees.

The world's largest car manufacturer, China, currently already has a robot density of 772 units and is catching up fast - within one year, the number of newly installed robots in the Chinese automotive industry has almost doubled to 61,598 units - that is 52% of the total of 119,405 units installed in factories worldwide in 2021.

Electric vehicles drive automation forward

Ambitious political targets for the use of electric vehicles are forcing the automotive industry to invest: The European Union, for example, has announced plans to end the sale of vehicles with air-polluting emissions by 2035. The US government wants to achieve a voluntary 50% market share of electric vehicle sales by 2030 and in China, all new vehicles sold must be powered by 'new energy' by 2035. Half of these must have an electric, fuel cell or plug-in hybrid drive - the remaining 50% are hybrid vehicles.

Most car manufacturers, who have already relied on traditional industrial robots with safety fences for basic assembly, are now also investing in collaborative applications for final assembly and finishing. Tier 2 automotive suppliers, with the large proportion of small and medium-sized companies, are currently even slower when it comes to full automation. However, as robots become smaller, more adaptable, easier to program and less expensive, this is likely to change.