China adds more robots than US, Japan, Germany and Korea combined

China has significantly outpaced other leading industrial nations in the adoption of factory robots, installing nearly 300,000 new units last year alone and bringing its total to over 2 million robots in operation. This surge positions China as the world’s largest user of industrial robots, surpassing the combined installations of the US, Japan, Germany, and South Korea. The rapid growth is largely attributed to the Chinese government’s strategic initiatives, including the Made in China 2025 campaign launched in 2015, which aims to reduce reliance on imports and boost domestic manufacturing capabilities in robotics, semiconductors, and AI. Government support through low-interest loans, subsidies, and assistance in acquiring foreign companies has been pivotal in this expansion. China’s factories now produce about one-third of global manufactured goods, outstripping the combined output of several major economies. Since 2017, Chinese factories have consistently installed over 150,000 robots annually, with a recent shift toward domestically produced robots accounting for 60%