Auto Industry Drives 2022 North American Robot Sales to Record High

Driven by the resurgence in robot orders from automotive companies, the North American robotics market set all-time records in both robots sold and value in 2022. According to a report from the Association for Advancing Automation (A3), North American companies ordered 44,196 robots valued at $2.38 billion last year, representing increases of 11 percent and 18 percent, respectively, over 2021, the previous record.

More than half of sales came from the automotive industry, which ordered 23,807 robots, up from 16,752 in 2021. While orders from nonautomotive industries slowed from the previous 3 yr., the report says, unique applications continued to emerge in such industries as construction and agriculture.

“Although labor-shortage and supply-chain issues impact nearly all industries in North America, automakers’ public commitment to move to electric vehicles (EVs) has set in motion a resurgence of robot orders in this market,” says Jeff Burnstein, president of A3. “Automotive OEMs and component suppliers recognize that investing in robots is instrumental to the emergence of EVs as well as to manufacturing all vehicles as they compete to meet customer demand.” 

“While the numbers of robots sold to nonautomotive companies isn’t as staggering as it’s been over the last couple of years, it’s clear that companies in every industry see automation as necessary for success,” Burnstein adds. 

See also: Association for Advancing Automation

Technologies: Pressroom Automation

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