Image: © Hangzhou Robotphoenix Industrial Robotics. |
AI-powered robots in China’ s National Strategy China has launched its 15th Five-Year Plan( 2026-2030) by placing robotics at the heart of its modern industrial system. The aim is to pivot its AI research towards physical applications with robots as main drivers for economic growth. Under the new framework, China is shifting its focus from traditional industrial automation to high-end, intelligent robotics integrated with artificial intelligence. This is a next step in the country’ s strong automation development.
China’ s new blueprint sees the main value of AI in its application to business and industry. To illustrate its competences and global competitiveness in“ embodied intelligence,” it showcases humanoid robots that dance or run. This was recently broadcasted around the world at the televised celebration of the Lunar New Year and at the humanoid robot half-marathon in Beijing.
“ But mass adoption as universal humanoid factory helpers or in private households will not happen within the near- and medium-term future. The 15th Five-Year plan sees the commercialisation of humanoid robots rather towards the end of the plan’ s period. Wide adoption of AI with traditional industrial robotics is expected over the next five to ten years,” said the IFR.
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“ Japan is the second-largest market for industrial robots in Asia, with 36,219 units installed in 2025 – a 19 % decrease. On a global scale, Japan’ s market size moved down from second to third position, behind the United States. Demand for robots is expected to grow slightly, but a major recovery is unlikely in the short to medium term,” added the IFR.
The IFR report confirmed that the market in the Republic of Korea installed 30,000 units in 2025 – down 1 %.
“ Annual installations had been trending sideways of around 31,000 units since 2019. The country remained the fourth largest market worldwide. New investments from the automotive industry will come into effect in 2027 and 2028. Demand for robots in Korea may break the established trend and grow in 2027,” outlined the Federation.
“ India installed almost 10,500 units in 2025- up 15 %, claiming sixth place worldwide, behind Germany. Although the volume of new installations is still relatively low compared to the top five established robot-adopting countries, India’ s growth is remarkable: Between 2020-2025, annual installations grew by 27 % on average per year( CAGR),” it added.
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The Americas: an overview
According to the IFR, the United States surpassed Japan in 2025 to become the second largest market for industrial robots, following China. Installations of industrial robots grew by 12 % to almost 38,500 units, which is the third highest number recorded in the history of these statistics.
“ In Mexico, robot installations declined by 7 % to fewer than 5,200 units. This marks the third year of downswing. In Canada, robot installations were up 5 % to almost 4,000 units. The average annual growth rate from 2020 to 2025 was + 9 %( CAGR),” commented the IFR.
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“ The Brazilian robotics’ market installed almost 4,300 new robots in 2025, up 38 %. This was driven by a surge in demand for robots from the automotive industry, which installed almost 2,100 units, a 212 % increase. Investments by Chinese car manufacturers in Brazil were most probably responsible for this,” it added.
U. S. robot industry
The IFR has confirmed that the number of industrial robot installations in the United States rose by 11 % year-on-year, to reach 38,000 units in 2025. This significant recovery is driven by robust growth in the food industry and other non-manufacturing sectors.
“ However, the automotive industry remains the largest adopter and reached 13,500 units, just 1 % below last year’ s result,” qualified the IFR.
“ The United States are back on the growth track,” highlighted Takayuki Ito, former President of the International Federation of Robotics.“ While automotive achieved its third-best result in seven years, the data highlights a growing demand for flexible automation in the food industry. Adoption in this sector surged by 30 %, now ranking alongside metal and machinery and electrical / electronics, all with approximately 3,000 installations in 2025.”
The degree of automation in the U. S., as measured by robot density, stands at 307 industrial robots in use for every 10,000 employees in the manufacturing industry. This places the U. S. in 8th position worldwide( two ranks up from the previous year) behind top automated countries such as South Korea( 1,220 robots), Germany( 449 robots) and Japan( 446 robots), but ahead of China( 166 robots). Robot density is the number of operational industrial robots relative to the number of employees.
“ The industrial modernisation outlook in North America and the U. S. remains
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ISMR October 2026 | ismr. net | 49 |