The Japanese automotive industry installed around 13,000 industrial robots in 2024 — an 11% increase compared to the previous year, and the highest level recorded since 2020, according to preliminary results from the www.ifr.org International Federation of Robotics (IFR).
IFR president Takayuki Ito said: “Japan is the world’s predominant robot manufacturing country representing 38% of global robot production. In terms of factory automation, Japan’s automotive industry ranked fourth worldwide with a robot density of 1,531 robots per 10,000 employees in 2023. This is ahead of the USA and Germany and only behind Slovenia, Korea and Switzerland.”
The Japanese automotive industry is currently undergoing a restructuring process in order to adapt to alternative powertrains. Most car manufacturers are expanding their range of battery and fuel cell electric vehicles (EVs). In addition, Japanese manufacturers are developing hydrogen-fuelled combustion engines, so this diversified portfolio will require the appropriate production technology reconfigurations.
Automotive manufacturers represent approximately 25% of all robot installations on an annual basis in Japan. The electrical and electronics industry is the only sector that installs more robots — about 14,000 industrial robots in 2024 — equivalent to a 5% decrease.