Quarterly North American robot orders from 2018-2016. | Source: A3
North American companies ordered 9,055 robots valued at $543 million in the first quarter of 2026, according to new data released by the Association for Advancing Automation, or A3. Compared with the first quarter of 2025, this represents a 0.1% decrease in robot orders and a 6.4% decline in revenue.
While units ordered were essentially flat, order revenue declined year over year, driven largely by a cyclical decline in automotive OEM orders, which fell 35.1% in units and 48.2% in revenue compared with the same quarter last year. Given the size and timing of automotive programs, that decline had an outsized impact on the total market, A3 said.
Comparing robot orders in 2025 to 2026 so far. | Source: A3
The Q1 data reinforces a broader trend that has emerged over the past several years: Robotics adoption is expanding well beyond traditional automotive manufacturing, according to A3. Industries including life sciences, electronics, food and consumer goods, and general manufacturing continue to increase investment in automation as they navigate labor shortages, supply chain pressures, quality requirements, and global competition.
Robot orders see growth in general industry segments
Robot sales in the automotive industry compared to general industries. | Source: A3
Outside of automotive OEMs, demand across much of the robotics market remained healthy. Automotive component suppliers increased robot orders 28.1% in units and 15.5% in revenue compared to Q1 2025, reflecting the segment’s typical lag behind OEM ordering cycles.
Several non-automotive industries also posted strong year-over-year gains in robot orders, including:
- Life sciences/pharmaceuticals/biomedicine: +54.1% units, +70.2% revenue
- Semiconductors and electronics/photonics: +31.7% units, +79.2% revenue
- Plastics and rubber: +25.2% units, +32.6% revenue
- Food and consumer goods: +16.0% units, +16.3% revenue
- All other industries: +24.5% units, +29.2% revenue
A3 said these results point to continued diversification in automation demand as companies across industries invest in robotics to improve productivity, address workforce challenges, and strengthen operational resilience.
North American companies show more interest in cobots
North American cobot sales compared to industrial robot sales. | Source: A3
Force- and power-limited robots remained one of the strongest-performing categories in the quarter, said A3. Companies ordered 1,637 collaborative robots valued at $69.8 million in Q1 2026, representing a 55.6% increase in units and a 78.2% increase in revenue compared to Q1 2025, the organization reported.
Cobots accounted for 18.1% of all robot units ordered and 12.9% of total order revenue during the quarter. Adoption was especially strong in life sciences/pharma/biomed, where they represented 60.7% of total robot orders in the sector, as well as semiconductors/electronics/photonics at 45.9% and all other industries at 29.0%.
“Collaborative robots are one example of how the robotics market continues to evolve,” said Alex Shikany, executive vice president at A3. “The broader takeaway from the first quarter is that automation demand is becoming more diverse in terms of industries, applications, and deployment models. That is an important signal for the long-term health of the market, especially as companies continue to invest in productivity, flexibility, quality, and competitiveness.”
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