North American robot orders reached $622 million in Q2 2026, representing a 21.3% increase in revenue compared to Q2 2025. While automotive OEM orders declined, growth in automotive components and non-automotive sectors like food and consumer goods drove overall demand, with non-automotive customers now accounting for 56% of robot unit orders.
- Q2 2026 robot orders totaled 8,940 units valued at $622 million, up 4.3% in units and 21.3% in revenue year-over-year
- Non-automotive customers accounted for 56% of robot units ordered, signaling diversification beyond traditional automotive manufacturing
- Automotive component orders grew +24% in units and +20% in Q2, while food and consumer goods increased +17% in units and +18% in Q2
- Collaborative robots represented 15.4% of all units and 9.8% of revenue in the first half of 2026, totaling 2,774 units valued at $114 million
- Manufacturers continued automation investments despite economic uncertainty, with manufacturing PMI in expansion for six consecutive months and output 1.1% above year-earlier levels
North American companies ordered 8,940 robots valued at $622 million in the second quarter of 2026, according to new data released by the Association for Advancing Automation (A3).
Compared to the second quarter of 2025, this represents a 4.3% increase in units ordered and a 21.3% increase in revenue. Second-quarter results brought first-half totals to 17,995 units valued at $1.166 billion, representing 2.0% growth in units and 6.6% growth in order value over the first half of 2025.
“The first half of 2026 shows how the mix of the robotics market continues to evolve,” says Alex Shikany, EVP at A3. “Automotive remains an important driver of demand, while we’re also seeing growth across a wider range of industries. Results were not uniform across every sector, but the breadth of growth outside automotive OEM is an important trend we’ll continue to watch.”
Key takeaways:
· Robotics demand is becoming increasingly diversified across industries. While automotive OEM orders declined 25% compared to the first half of 2025, growth in automotive component and several general industry sectors helped offset that decline.
· Automotive component saw +24% units, while food and consumer goods experienced +17% units.
· Several industries posted double-digit year-over-year gains in robot orders during the second quarter. Automotive component grew 20% while food and consumer goods increased 18%. Non-automotive customers accounted for 56% of robot units ordered during the quarter, continuing the trend of robots being adopted across a variety of industries.
· Collaborative robots continued to represent a significant portion of automation investment during the first half of 2026. Companies ordered 2,774 collaborative robots valued at $114 million, accounting for 15.4% of all robot units ordered and 9.8% of total order revenue. In the second quarter alone, companies ordered 1,137 collaborative robots valued at $44 million, representing 12.7% of total units and 7.1% of quarterly revenue.
· Despite continued uncertainty across the broader economy, manufacturers continued investing in automation during the first half of 2026. Manufacturing PMI remained in expansion territory for a sixth consecutive month in June, with new orders and production continuing to grow. Federal Reserve data also showed manufacturing output 1.1% above its year-earlier level in June.
· The first-half data suggests manufacturers continue to view automation as a long-term investment in competitiveness.
