Korean Media: The Gap Widens Further — China Installed 14 Times More Industrial Robots Last Year Than Germany
On November 12, South Korean media outlet NEWSPIM published an article stating that as China accelerates the deployment of industrial robots, the gap between it and Germany, Europe’s leading manufacturing power, is continuing to widen.
In 2023, Chinese enterprises installed 350,000 industrial robots, accounting for approximately 60% of the global new robot installations. In contrast, Germany installed only about 25,000 units, marking the third consecutive year of decline. A decade ago, China’s robot installation volume was three times that of Germany; today, it stands at 14 times.
According to a report by the International Federation of Robotics, nearly half of the approximately 5 million industrial robots operating in factories worldwide are located in China.
Rebecca Achesati, a technology innovation policy expert at the Mercator Institute for China Studies, stated, “The pace of China’s robotics industry development is remarkable,” adding that “European companies are expressing significant concern over the intensifying competition.”
While China still relies on high-end components from European and Japanese suppliers and on artificial intelligence semiconductors from U.S.-based Nvidia, it is gradually building self-reliant capabilities.
In fact, domestic products now account for more than half of China’s robot installations, up from around one-third a decade ago.
Last year, approximately 7,000 full-sized humanoid robots—defined as those exceeding 1.4 meters in height—were sold globally, with over half of the manufacturers originating from China.
Achesati noted: “China’s vast manufacturing base is becoming an ideal testing ground for next-generation robotics technologies.”
Some analysts believe Europe still has opportunities. Susan Biehl, secretary-general of the International Federation of Robotics, said: “The race is not over. Countries, including Germany, need to develop coordinated strategies to maintain competitiveness. There remains ample room for success in Europe.”
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1881639248958794/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the position of any official body or institution.