Articulated Robot Market - Global Industry Size, Share, Trends, Opportunity, and Forecast, 2021-2031

The Global Articulated Robot Market is projected to expand from USD 27.18 Billion in 2025 to USD 54.87 Billion by 2031, achieving a CAGR of 12.42%. Articulated robots are industrial mechanical systems defined by rotary joints that emulate the versatility and range of motion of a human arm. These machines are essential to modern manufacturing, driven primarily by the urgent need to address global labor shortages and the requirement for high-precision production within the automotive and electronics sectors. This momentum is further bolstered by strategic initiatives to reshore manufacturing operations for supply chain stability. Highlighting this strong demand, the International Federation of Robotics reported that approximately 542,000 industrial robots were installed globally in 2024, demonstrating the critical role automation infrastructure plays in sustaining operational resilience and industrial growth.

Despite this positive trajectory, the market faces a significant obstacle due to the substantial capital expenditure needed for deployment. The high initial costs associated with purchasing, integrating, and maintaining these advanced units create a formidable financial barrier, particularly for small and medium enterprises. Consequently, this economic constraint restricts the accessibility of articulated robotics for budget-conscious organizations and remains a primary challenge that could hinder the broader expansion of the market into diverse industrial applications.

Market Drivers

The surge in demand from the automotive manufacturing sector acts as a primary catalyst for the articulated robot market, largely fueled by the global transition to electric vehicles and the modernization of assembly lines. Manufacturers are aggressively integrating high-payload and welding robots to handle lightweight chassis components and complex battery packs, requiring rapid automation upgrades to ensure supply chain resilience. This sector-specific intensity is evident in procurement trends; according to the Association for Advancing Automation's 'Industrial Robot Sales in North America' report from May 2025, automotive OEMs ordered 3,668 units in the first quarter of 2025. This significant investment underscores the critical reliance on articulated systems to maintain production velocity and adhere to evolving vehicular safety and efficiency standards.

Simultaneously, the expansion of the electrical and electronics industry propels market growth, driven by the need for extreme precision in assembling microcomponents and printed circuit boards. As devices become smaller and more complex, articulated robots equipped with advanced sensors are essential for tasks that exceed human dexterity and consistency. According to the International Federation of Robotics' 'World Robotics 2025' preliminary results released in July 2025, the electrical and electronics sector in Japan installed approximately 14,000 industrial robots in 2024, maintaining its status as a leading adoption vertical. To satisfy this escalating global appetite for automation, manufacturing output is scaling rapidly; according to the National Bureau of Statistics, China produced 595,000 industrial robots in the first nine months of 2025 alone, reflecting the massive industrial infrastructure supporting this market.

Market Challenges

The substantial capital expenditure required for the acquisition and integration of articulated robots serves as a formidable restraint on market expansion. Advanced robotic systems necessitate not only significant upfront purchasing costs but also considerable ongoing investments in programming, safety integration, and specialized maintenance. This financial burden is particularly acute for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), which often lack the liquidity to absorb long return-on-investment periods. Consequently, many smaller manufacturers are forced to defer or abandon automation initiatives, effectively concentrating market share within a limited circle of large-scale industrial conglomerates and stalling widespread adoption across cost-sensitive sectors.

This economic friction directly impacts market performance metrics, often neutralizing the demand from key industries. For instance, high borrowing costs and tight capital budgets have visibly slowed procurement activities in major regions. According to the Association for Advancing Automation, in 2024, total robot orders in North America remained virtually stagnant, recording a marginal increase of only 0.5% in units compared to the previous year. This negligible growth underscores how financial barriers can stifle momentum, preventing shipment volumes from aligning with the theoretical operational needs of the manufacturing industry.

Market Trends

The integration of Generative AI for natural language programming is fundamentally altering the usability and accessibility of articulated robots. By enabling operators to issue commands and generate complex code structures through conversational prompts, this technology dramatically lowers the technical barrier to entry and mitigates the prevailing shortage of skilled programmers. This shift from proprietary coding to intuitive interaction is rapidly accelerating capital allocation towards advanced software solutions; according to Rockwell Automation’s '10th Annual State of Smart Manufacturing Report' from June 2025, organizations investing in generative and causal AI increased 12% year-over-year, signaling a decisive move from experimental pilots to scalable factory deployment.

Simultaneously, the development of high-payload and industrial-grade collaborative robots is expanding the operational envelope of fenceless automation. Unlike early cobots restricted to light assembly, these robust systems now possess the torque and reach necessary for heavy-duty tasks such as palletizing and machine tending while maintaining safety standards that allow for human proximity. This evolution has successfully merged industrial-grade power with collaborative flexibility, driving significant market penetration; according to the Association for Advancing Automation's 'First Half 2025 Robotics Industry' report from August 2025, collaborative robots accounted for 23.7% of all robot units ordered in North America during the second quarter of 2025.

Key Players Profiled in the Articulated Robot Market

• ABB Ltd.
• FANUC Corporation
• KUKA Aktiengesellschaft
• Yaskawa Electric Corporation
• Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd.
• DENSO Corporation
• Seiko Epson Corporation
• Mitsubishi Electric Corporation

Report Scope

In this report, the Global Articulated Robot Market has been segmented into the following categories:

Articulated Robot Market, by Payload:

• Up to 16.00 kg
• 16.01-60.00 kg

Articulated Robot Market, by Function:

• Handling
• Welding
• Dispensing
• Assembly

Articulated Robot Market, by Industry:

• Automotive
• Electrical & Electronics
• Metal & Machinery
• Food & Beverages

Articulated Robot Market, by Region:

• North America
• Europe
• Asia-Pacific
• South America
• Middle East & Africa

Competitive Landscape

Company Profiles: Detailed analysis of the major companies present in the Global Articulated Robot Market.

Available Customization

The analyst offers customization according to your specific needs. The following customization options are available for the report:

• Detailed analysis and profiling of additional market players (up to five).

This product will be delivered within 1-3 business days.