The North American robotics industry continued to build momentum in the first half of 2025.
New data from the Association for Advancing Automation (A3) shows robot orders increased by 4.3 percent and revenue rose 7.5 percent compared to the first half of 2024, a promising sign for continued automation investment amid a complex economic landscape.
Automotive leads first-half gains, with support from life sciences and plastics
North American companies ordered 17,635 robots valued at $1.094 billion in the first six months of 2025. Automotive OEMs (original equipment manufacturers) led industry growth with a 34 percent year-over-year increase in units ordered.
Other top-performing segments included plastics and rubber (+9 percent) and life sciences/pharma/biomed (+8 percent), reflecting broader trends like reshoring, labor shortages, and the push for greater operational efficiency.
Life sciences and electronics drive Q2 growth
In Q2 alone, companies ordered 8,571 robots worth $513 million, marking a 9 percent increase in units over Q2 2024.
Life sciences/pharma/biomed posted the strongest sector growth in the quarter (+22 percent), followed by semiconductors/electronics/photonics (+18 percent) and steady gains in plastics, automotive components, and general industry.
Alex Shikany, executive vice president at A3, says: “The continued growth in robot orders underscores what we’ve been hearing from our members: automation is now central to long-term business strategy.
“It’s not just about efficiency anymore. It’s about building resilience, improving flexibility, and staying competitive in a rapidly changing global market.
“If these patterns hold, the North American robotics market could outperform 2024 levels by mid-single digit growth rates by the end of the year.”
Collaborative robots show rising influence
Collaborative robots (cobots) accounted for a growing share of the market with 3,085 units ordered in the first half of 2025, valued at $114 million. In Q2 alone, cobots made up 23.7 percent of all units and 14.7 percent of revenue.
These systems are increasingly favored for their ability to work safely alongside humans and address automation needs in space- or labor-constrained environments. A3 began tracking cobots as a distinct category in 1Q 2025 and plans to expand future reporting to include growth trends by sector.
Automotive vs. non-automotive sectors in Q2
The non-automotive sector took the lead over automotive in Q2, accounting for 56 percent of total units ordered. This move reflects the expanding role of automation in industries such as life sciences, electronics, and other non-automotive manufacturing sectors.
More detailed market breakouts and graphs from the Q2 2025 report are available upon request for press and within the A3 Vault for member companies.
A3 launches new premium market intelligence platform for members
For even deeper insights, A3 members can now subscribe to MI+, the Association’s new premium market intelligence platform. MI+ offers exclusive access to forecasts, deep-dive reports, and a growing library of sector-specific analyses.
Upcoming features will include dynamic dashboards and customizable analytics tools to help members make smarter, faster business decisions.
