Japanese automotive industry hits five year high in automation - The Robot Report

The Japanese automotive industry installed approximately 13,000 industrial robots in 2024, marking an 11% increase from the previous year and reaching the highest level since 2020, according to the International Federation of Robotics (IFR). Japan remains a global leader in robot manufacturing, producing 38% of the world’s robots, and its automotive sector ranks fourth worldwide in robot density with 1,531 robots per 10,000 employees in 2023. This density surpasses that of the United States and Germany, trailing only Slovenia, South Korea, and Switzerland. The industry is currently restructuring to accommodate alternative powertrains, including battery electric, fuel cell electric vehicles, and hydrogen-fueled combustion engines, necessitating advanced production technologies. Automotive manufacturers account for about a quarter of Japan’s annual robot installations, second only to the electrical and electronics sector. Globally, automotive industries continue to invest heavily in automation. Europe installed 23,000 industrial robots in 2024, its