Compared to the previous year, the number of robot installations in the United States of America increased by 12%. A total of 44,303 units were installed in 2023. This was reported by the International Federation of Robotics. "The manufacturing sector in the US is one of the most advanced in the world," says IFR President Marina Bill. "Our IFR outlook with the first preliminary results for 2023 again shows strong demand for robots in all major segments of US manufacturing."

High level in the automotive industry

"Car manufacturers are currently investing more in robotics to switch to the production of electric vehicles and to compensate for labor shortages," says Bill. In the automotive industry, sales rose to a record 14,678 installed robots in 2023, an increase of 1%. However, the segment already recorded high growth in 2022: installations jumped by 47% to 14,472 units. Automotive and component manufacturers will have a market share of 33% of installed industrial robots in 2023. In an international comparison, the production volume of cars and light vehicles in the USA ranks second in the world behind China.

Electrical and electronics industry catches up

Installations in the electrical and electronics industry increased by 37% to 5120 units in 2023. The latest result corresponds to a market share of 12% of installed industrial robots and almost reaches the record level of the pre-pandemic period: 5284 units were installed in 2018. Demand for industrial robots here is being significantly influenced by the trend towards strengthening domestic supply chains and by projects driving the energy transition.

The number of installations in other sectors exceeding the 3000-unit mark in the US is: metal and mechanical engineering (4123 units, +6%) and plastics and chemical products (3213 units, +5%). They represent a market share of 9% and 7% respectively of industrial robot installations in 2023.

Looking across the border - Canada and Mexico

In Canada, the manufacturing industry installed a total of 4616 industrial robots in 2023 - an increase of 43%. The automotive industry accounts for a market share of 55%. With 2549 installed units, sales in the automotive sector rose by 99% in 2023, reaching an all-time high.

Robot installations in Mexico's manufacturing industry will remain almost unchanged at 5868 units in 2023. The main customer is the automotive industry, which accounts for 69% of robot installations in 2023: sales reached a total of 4068 units (±0%) in 2023 - the third-best result since the peak of 4805 units in 2017.

The final results of the new World Robotics data will be published by the IFR
will be published on September 24, 2024.