Robot Orders Climb 24.8% in Q3 2026
North American companies ordered 10,989 robots in the third quarter of 2026, with collaborative robots and component suppliers driving much of the gain.
Updated on Nov. 9, 2026 in Robotics
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North American companies ordered 10,989 robots valued at $723.5 million in the third quarter of 2026, up 24.8% in units from the same quarter a year earlier. Year-to-date orders reached 28,984 robots worth approximately $1.89 billion through September.
Why it matters
The gains show manufacturers continuing to invest in automation, with orders growing faster in value than in units through the first nine months of the year. The increase signals sustained demand for robotic systems across several industrial sectors in North America.
Collaborative robots accounted for 1,831 of the Q3 units, roughly 56% more than a year earlier and 16.7% of all robot units ordered. Orders from semiconductor and electronics firms rose 97.6%, while automotive component suppliers rose 90.4%.
The players
Association for Advancing Automation
A trade association that tracks robotics and automation industry data, including the quarterly robot order statistics cited in this report.
The details
Automotive component suppliers and semiconductor and electronics companies drove much of the increase, while automotive original equipment manufacturers recorded a smaller 7.5% gain. The figures cover robot orders placed by North American companies and were reported by the Association for Advancing Automation from Ann Arbor, Michigan.
Timeline
Q3 2025 served as the baseline for the year-over-year quarterly comparison.
Q3 2026 saw 10,989 robots ordered, valued at $723.5 million.
The first nine months of 2026 recorded 28,984 robots ordered, worth approximately $1.89 billion.
Roadmap
The association's quarterly order series shows North American manufacturers steadily expanding robot adoption, with the third quarter of 2026 extending that pattern. Collaborative robots are gaining a larger share of total orders, indicating a shift toward flexible systems that work alongside human workers.
Manufacturers adding robots may change staffing and production schedules at plants that rely on automation. Growing cobot adoption suggests more factories will deploy robots designed to share workspaces with people.
The takeaway
Rising robot orders across several industries point to automation becoming a steady part of North American manufacturing plans. Watching quarterly order data can help readers gauge where industrial investment is heading.
Further reading
Explore more Robotics coverage to see how industrial automation demand is shaping manufacturing.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Assembly Magazine.
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