Robot Orders Rise 4.3% in Q2 as Non-Automotive Sectors Drive Growth

Robot Orders Climb Despite Automotive Headwinds

North American companies ordered 8,940 robots valued at $622 million during the second quarter of 2026, marking a 4.3% increase in units and a 21.3% jump in revenue compared to the same period in 2025, according to data from the Association for Advancing Automation (A3). The first-half totals reached 17,995 units worth $1.166 billion, representing 2.0% unit growth and 6.6% revenue growth year-over-year.

The results underscore a significant shift in robotics adoption patterns, with demand spreading beyond traditional automotive manufacturing into a broader range of industrial applications.

Why it matters

The diversification of robot orders across industries signals a maturing automation market less dependent on cyclical automotive investment. For technology vendors and system integrators, this means opportunities in sectors that historically lagged in automation adoption. For manufacturers in semiconductors, life sciences, and food production, the data confirms that competitors are actively deploying robots—making automation investment increasingly necessary to maintain competitiveness rather than gain advantage.

General Industry Offsets Automotive Decline

While Automotive OEM orders dropped 25% in the first half of 2026, several sectors posted strong gains. Semiconductor and electronics manufacturers led with 35% unit growth, followed by life sciences and pharmaceutical companies at 32% growth. Automotive component suppliers increased orders by 24%, while food and consumer goods manufacturers grew 17%.

Plastics and rubber processing companies increased robot orders by 6%, metals manufacturers by 3%, and a category covering all other industries grew 6%. Non-automotive customers accounted for 56% of robot units ordered during the second quarter, continuing a multi-quarter trend toward broader industrial adoption.

During the second quarter specifically, semiconductors and electronics posted 38% year-over-year growth, automotive components grew 20%, and both food and consumer goods and metals sectors increased 18%.

Collaborative Robots Maintain Market Share

Collaborative robots represented 15.4% of all robot units ordered during the first half, totaling 2,774 units valued at $114 million. In the second quarter alone, companies ordered 1,137 collaborative robots worth $44 million, accounting for 12.7% of units and 7.1% of revenue.

Collaborative robot adoption proved particularly strong in life sciences and pharmaceuticals, where they represented 43.7% of first-half orders, and in semiconductors and electronics, where they accounted for 36.5% of orders.

Manufacturing Conditions Support Investment

Manufacturers continued investing in automation despite broader economic uncertainty. The Manufacturing PMI remained in expansion territory for a sixth consecutive month through June, with new orders and production continuing to grow. Federal Reserve data showed manufacturing output running 1.1% above year-earlier levels in June.

"The first half of 2026 shows how the mix of the robotics market continues to evolve," said Alex Shikany, Executive Vice President at A3. "Automotive remains an important driver of demand, while we're also seeing growth across a wider range of industries."

The data was first reported by the Association for Advancing Automation in Ann Arbor, Michigan.