EU’s Automotive Industry Shows Decline in Robot Installations
Frankfurt, September 25th, 2025 – The EU’s automotive industry has experienced a decline in robot installations, according to the World Robotics 2025 Industrial Robots report presented by the International Federation of Robotics (IFR). In 2024, the industry installed 30,650 industrial robots, marking a 5% decrease from the previous year.
This decline is evident in six of the EU’s top ten vehicle-producing countries, which recorded double-digit losses. The trend is concerning, given that the automotive sector is traditionally one of the strongest customer industries for robotics, accounting for a quarter of all robot installations in 2024.
Takayuki Ito, President of the International Federation of Robotics, says, “The majority of EU’s car-making countries have significantly reduced their investment in robotics, which goes against the trend we have seen in previous years.”
Germany, the largest producer of vehicles in the EU and fourth worldwide, saw a decline in robot installations. The country’s output of more than 4 million units in 2024, as reported by OICA, used to account for over 40% of annual domestic robot installations. However, this share has fallen substantially over the last four years, with a reduction of 25% year-on-year in 2024. Only 6,932 units were installed, marking a significant drop from the previous years.
The remaining top 10 automotive countries in the EU also saw declines in robot installations in 2024. Spain, the second-largest producer, recorded a 1% decrease with 2,279 units installed. The Czech Republic, in third place, saw a 28% reduction with 1,116 units installed. France, in fourth place, saw a 41% decrease with 1,018 units installed. Slovakia, in fifth place, saw a 75% decrease with 398 units installed. Italy, in sixth place, recorded an 11% decline with 1,002 units installed. Romania, in seventh place, saw a 50% decrease with 248 units installed.
One notable outlier in the EU is Hungary, ranking ninth in terms of vehicle production. The country’s automotive sector saw a surge in robot installations, with 3,573 units installed, marking a 305% increase. This is mainly due to major car industry projects that accounted for 84% of the country’s total robot installations in 2024. These projects typically involve 1,000 to 2,000 units.
Poland, in eighth place, recorded no change with 742 units installed. Portugal, in tenth place, saw a 4% increase with 289 units installed.
Looking towards the future, the EU’s automotive industry is not expected to drive growth for the robotics industry in 2025. Lower demand for electric vehicles and political uncertainty have caused companies to postpone investment projects. However, the recent trade and tariff agreement between the European Union and the United States has given rise to hope. For 2026, experts are uncertain about a return to growth, but there is a consensus that installation numbers will rise again in 2027 and 2028.
For more information and press materials, please visit https://ifr.org/ifr-press-releases/.
About IFR
The International Federation of Robotics (IFR) is the global voice of the robotics industry. It represents national robot associations, academia, and manufacturers of industrial and service robots from over twenty countries. To learn more, visit www.ifr.org and follow IFR on LinkedIn and YouTube.
Press Contact:
International Federation of Robotics
Press Officer
Carsten Heer
Phone: +49 (0) 40 822 44 284
E-mail: press@ifr.org
Distributed by https://pressat.co.uk/
Derick is an experienced reporter having held multiple senior roles for large publishers across Europe. Specialist subjects include small business and financial emerging markets.