Mobile-Menu

Global Robotics Japan Strengthens Itself with Record Installations of Robots

Source: IFR | Translated by AI 1 min Reading Time

Related Vendors

FAULHABER Drive Systems
Taiwan Machine Tool & Accessory Builders' Association (TMBA)
Wuxi InfiMotion Technology Co., Ltd.

Japan is increasingly relying on the use of robotic systems in automobile manufacturing, according to the International Federation of Robotics (IFR). At the same time, the country is plagued by US tariffs.

This harmonious picture of Japan should not hide the fact that the industry in this country is facing upheavals. The aim is to manage this with an increase in industrial robots. At the same time, US tariffs dampen economic success.(Image: S. Pukku)
This harmonious picture of Japan should not hide the fact that the industry in this country is facing upheavals. The aim is to manage this with an increase in industrial robots. At the same time, US tariffs dampen economic success.
(Image: S. Pukku)

The automotive industry in Japan installed approximately 13,000 industrial robots in 2024, according to the IFR. This represents an increase of around eleven percent compared to the previous year, marking the highest level since 2020. Japan is generally regarded as the leading manufacturing country for industrial robots, with a market share of 38 percent of global robot production. In terms of factory automation, the Japanese automotive industry ranks fourth worldwide—the robot density in 2023 was 1,531 robots per 10,000 employees. With this result, Japan ranks ahead of the USA and Germany but behind Slovenia, Korea, and Switzerland.

Robots Accompany Japan's Mobility Transformation

The Japanese automotive industry is currently undergoing a restructuring process, as noted further. Most car manufacturers are adapting to alternative drives and expanding their range of electric vehicles and hydrogen-powered fuel cell models. This diversified offering requires corresponding production technology. About a quarter of all industrial robots in Japan are installed by the automotive manufacturers. Only the electric and electronics industries are sectors in Japan with even more robots. Their installations reached approximately 14,000 units in 2024, representing a five percent decline compared to the previous year.

Japan's Exports, However, Suffer from US Tariffs

Japan's export economy suffered another setback in June amid the U.S. tariff policy. Exports fell by 0.5 percent year-on-year. Even analysts were surprised by this downturn, according to dpa, as they had on average expected the same percentage but as an increase in exports. However, Japanese exports had already declined in May (-1.7 percent) due to U.S. tariffs, marking the first drop since last autumn. Particularly significant in June was again the sharp decline in goods shipments to the U.S., which corresponded to a year-on-year decrease of 11.4 percent. Exports of cars (25 percent tariff) and Japanese steel (50 percent tariff) were especially hard hit. Additionally, a base tax of ten percent applies to all Japanese goods.

Subscribe to the newsletter now

Don't Miss out on Our Best Content

By clicking on „Subscribe to Newsletter“ I agree to the processing and use of my data according to the consent form (please expand for details) and accept the Terms of Use. For more information, please see our Privacy Policy. The consent declaration relates, among other things, to the sending of editorial newsletters by email and to data matching for marketing purposes with selected advertising partners (e.g., LinkedIn, Google, Meta)

Unfold for details of your consent

Related content