Robot Orders Surge: Q3 Automation Trends

North American Robot Orders Surge in Q3 2025, Driven by Non-Automotive Demand

A significant uptick in robot orders across North America during the third quarter of 2025 signals a growing reliance on automation to address ongoing labor challenges and the trend of reshoring manufacturing operations. The surge in demand is bolstering overall manufacturing activity as companies increasingly invest in robotic solutions.

According to data released by the Association for Advancing Automation (A3), 8,806 robots valued at $574 million were ordered in Q3. This represents an 11.6% increase in the number of units ordered and a substantial 17.2% jump in revenue compared to the same period in 2024.

Did you know? – North America is now the world’s third-largest market for industrial robots, following China and Japan. Growth is fueled by demand for increased efficiency and productivity.

Non-Automotive Sectors Lead the charge

While the automotive industry remains a key consumer of robotic technology, the most significant growth is currently being observed in non-automotive sectors. the food and consumer goods industries experienced the largest year-over-year increase, with orders rising by an impressive 105%. Automotive OEMs also demonstrated strong growth, with a 68% increase in orders. Gains were also reported in the metals industry (11%) and other sectors (8%).

Though, the report indicates a slowdown in certain areas. Orders for automotive components declined by 25%, and the plastics and rubber industries saw a 35% decrease in orders.

Pro tip: – Implementing robots can reduce operational costs by up to 20% through increased output and reduced waste, according to industry analysis.

Collaborative Robots Gain Momentum

Collaborative robots, or “cobots,” are rapidly gaining traction as a versatile automation solution. The A3 began tracking cobot volumes earlier this year,and Q3 data reveals that companies ordered 1,174 collaborative robots valued at $42 million. These units accounted for 13.3% of all robots ordered and 7.2% of total revenue.

Year-to-date figures show a total of 4,259 collaborative robots ordered,representing a value of $156 million – 16.1% of total units and 9.4% of revenue for the first nine months of 2025. The A3 anticipates expanding its reporting in the future to provide more granular data on sector-specific trends and growth rates.

Reader question: – What’s driving cobot adoption? Their ease of programming and safety features allow them to work alongside humans without extensive guarding.

Steady Growth Throughout 2025

From January through September, North American companies ordered a total of 26,441 robots valued at $1.7 billion. This translates to a 6.6% increase in units and a 10.6% increase in revenue compared to the same period last year.

The non-automotive sector continues to dominate the market,accounting for 59% of all robot orders in Q3.This growth across food and consumer goods, metals, and general manufacturing underscores a broader strategic shift toward automation as a long-term solution for managing rising costs and persistent workforce shortages.

Market Sentiment Improves

“It’s encouraging to see robotics demand improve over last year, with more automation projects steadily returning to the pipeline,” said Alex Shikany, Executive Vice President at A3. “The market has experienced a substantial amount of economic and policy uncertainty this year, and it’s been a challenging environment for capital investment, but there is upside. We’re seeing sustained interest from companies across the region, with attendance rising at events like Automate, and more leaders are exploring automation as a long-term strategy to strengthen