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The AI Insider
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Robot Orders Rise in Q2 2026 as Automation Demand Broadens Across Industries

North American companies ordered 8,940 robots valued at $622 million in Q2 2026, up 4.3% in units and 21.3% in value year-over-year, according to the Association for Advancing Automation. Non-automotive customers accounted for 56% of orders, with growth in semiconductors, life sciences, and food sectors offsetting a 25% decline in automotive OEM orders. Collaborative robots also gained traction, representing 15.4% of first-half unit sales, signaling a more diversified automation market.

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North American Robot Orders Rise in Q2: Automation Demand Spreads Beyond Automotive

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In Q2 2026, North American robot orders grew 4.3% year-over-year in units, but order value surged 21.3%, with non-automotive sectors accounting for over half of orders, indicating automation demand is spreading from traditional automotive OEMs to semiconductors, life sciences, and other fields.

  • Q2 North American robot orders totaled 8,940 units valued at $622 million, up 4.3% in units and 21.3% in value year-over-year.
  • In the first half, non-automotive customers accounted for 56% of orders, while automotive OEM orders fell 25%, offset by growth in other sectors.
  • Collaborative robot orders in the first half reached 2,774 units, representing 15.4% of total units, with notable penetration in life sciences and semiconductors.
Open section navigationStructural Shift Behind Order Growth

Structural Shift Behind Order Growth

According to data from the Association for Advancing Automation (A3), North American companies ordered 8,940 robots in Q2 2026, valued at $622 million, up 4.3% and 21.3% year-over-year, respectively. Cumulative orders in the first half reached 17,995 units valued at $1.166 billion, up 2.0% in units and 6.6% in value year-over-year. Notably, the growth rate of order value far exceeded that of units, suggesting a trend toward higher-priced or premium robots, though the specific reasons were not detailed in the data.

A more critical structural change is the diversification of demand sources. In Q2, non-automotive customers accounted for 56% of orders, continuing the trend of recent quarters. Automotive OEM orders fell 25% in the first half, but growth in automotive parts, semiconductors, life sciences, and other sectors offset this decline. This indicates that robot demand is spreading from traditional automotive manufacturing to a broader range of industries.

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Credibility boundary

Data in this article is sourced from an A3 press release, republished by The AI Insider. As an industry association, A3's data is typically based on member surveys, but specific methodology is not disclosed. Quarterly year-over-year growth rates are based on a consistent reporting cohort, while first-half comparisons are based on aggregate totals. All data is as stated in the source and has not been independently verified.

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  1. Robot Orders Increase in Q2 as Automation Demand Broadens Across IndustriesThe AI Insider

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The AI Insider

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