China’s Robot Market Share: How It Became the Engine of Global Automation

China’s rise in robotics isn’t just a technology trend—it’s becoming a defining pillar of global manufacturing power. As automation reshapes how the world produces things, China has positioned itself not just as a buyer of robots, but increasingly as a maker, innovator, and exporter. Let’s explore what’s behind China’s current leadership in robot market share, how fast it’s growing, and what challenges loom ahead.

From Automation Aspirations to Global Domination

A decade ago, China’s robotics industry was ambitious but still heavily dependent on international suppliers. The goal was clear: reduce reliance on foreign tech, enhance domestic capacity, and transform factories with high precision automation. Policy initiatives such as Made in China 2025 and aggressive investment in AI, servo systems, sensors, and smart factories laid the groundwork. 
But ambition alone doesn’t drive numbers. What’s remarkable is how quickly China moved from being a large buyer of robots to owning nearly half of its domestic robot market, increasing localization, boosting production, and taking over more of the value chain. 

Key Stats: Why China Leads the World

Here are some of the recent figures that reveal the extent of China’s dominance in robotics:

• In 2023, China installed 276,288 industrial robots, which was about 51% of global installations. 
• In 2022, installations reached roughly 290,000 units.
• Domestic Chinese robot brands’ share in their home market surged from ~30% in 2020 to 47% in 2023.
• Overall robot production in China grew dramatically—from about 33,000 units in 2015 to ~560,000 units in 2024. That’s roughly a 17× increase.
• The China robotics industry’s value is also scaling fast: estimated to grow from roughly US$47 billion in 2024 to US$108 billion by 2028, with annual growth around 23%.

These numbers don’t just reflect growth—they represent a structural shift: more production, more local competence, and rising global influence.

What’s Driving the Shift: Factors Behind China’s Growing Share

Several forces are aligning that explain why China is becoming not just a user of robots, but a leader.

1. Government Policy & Strategy

Key policies like Made in China 2025 and large state-funded programs for robotics, AI, and smart manufacturing have pushed investment, subsidies, and infrastructure support. 

2. Cost & Scale Advantage

Chinese robot producers are increasingly able to scale production, reduce costs, and deliver more competitive value. Whether it’s for domestic manufacturers or foreign robot makers establishing factories in China, cost competitiveness matters. 

3. Localization & Domestic Supply Chain

As local firms improve, China’s share of robots made by domestic companies has risen sharply. Localization rates (i.e. how much of the robot and its components are manufactured domestically) have increased—to more than 47% in some metrics. Additionally, in certain industries like metal machinery, local suppliers are dominating domestic robot supply.

4. Strong Demand from Key Industries

The electronics, automotive, and machinery sectors are major consumers of robots. High labor costs, pressure to maintain quality, and the need to improve throughput all push manufacturers to invest in automation. China’s massive scale in these sectors magnifies this effect. 

5. Innovation & Technology Upgrades

More R&D, better motion control, smarter sensors, better software, and integration of AI are helping Chinese robotics firms move up the value chain—not just low-cost providers, but also providers of smarter, more capable robots. 

Challenges Ahead: Not Everything Moves in a Straight Line

Even for a leader, there are constraints and headwinds that could slow or complicate further gains.

• Overcapacity and cost pressures: As more firms enter, price competition intensifies. Maintaining profit margins while pushing cost down is challenging.
• Technological bottlenecks: Some components—high-precision reducers, advanced servo drives, high-end sensors—still rely heavily on foreign tech.
• Regulatory and trade tensions: Export restrictions, IP concerns, or international trade barriers could affect China’s ability to grow overseas or access certain advanced components.
• Workforce and automation balance: Moving too fast on automation can raise social and labor concerns (job displacement, skill gaps) which need management.
• Quality and reliability expectations: Global customers often demand high reliability, after-sales support, and durability; Chinese firms must match or exceed these to sustain global credibility.
  

Where China’s Share Will Likely Go Next

Given its current trajectory, several trends are likely to shape how China’s robot market share evolves in the next few years:
Continued increase in domestic production share; more Chinese players moving into mid- and high-end segments, not just cost-competitive or lower-end robots.
Broader deployment of service robots (logistics, home, healthcare), beyond purely industrial manufacturing.
Higher robot density in more industries, including smaller manufacturers and traditional sectors, spurred by labor shortages and rising wages.
Greater export growth, both in finished robots and components, especially as supply chains globalize and firms seek to sell abroad.
More integration with AI, cloud, IoT, etc., building “smarter” robotic systems that do more than just repeat motions—but learn, adapt, and integrate.

Bottom Line

In 2023, China was already installing over half of the world’s new industrial robots and has dramatically increased domestic manufacturer share. What we’re seeing is more than just numbers—it’s a transformative shift in how the robotics world is structured. China is not only the biggest market, but increasingly a technology and manufacturing heavyweight in robotics.
For observers and participants globally—whether suppliers, policymakers, or manufacturing firms—China’s rise in robot market share offers both competition and opportunity. The coming years will likely deepen that role, and the firms that adapt will ride the wave.