London, 15th January 2025 – Interact Analysis has cut its short-term growth projection for the mobile robot market by 18% in 2027 as global economic and political turbulence persists. The outlook for mobile robots — automated guided vehicles (AGVs) and autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) — remains positive, but it is constrained by external factors, which are leading to slowing demand, a ‘wait and see’ attitude to investment from retailers and manufacturers, and slower than anticipated price declines.

A poll of 300 buyers of mobile robots by the market intelligence specialist reveals they expect to increase spending on automation in 2024 by a mean average of 18% compared with 2023, as global conflicts and economic weakness causes short-term falls in spending.

Interact Analysis has reduced the mid-term forecast in its most recent Mobile Robot Report, despite the overall outlook for the future remaining robust and growth expected to be in double digits throughout the forecast period to 2030. The installed base is predicted to exceed 4.2 million units by 2030, with mobile robot revenues expected to increase at more than 20% annually between 2024 and 2030. Labor, rising wages, more diverse and demanding e-commerce, and economic/political uncertainty will be key drivers of investment in automation.

Despite the current market constraints, there is still scope for future growth because, by 2030, only 13% of warehouses will have deployed at least one fulfillment AMR and just 3% of all forklifts shipped globally will be automated.

China continues to lead the world in mobile robot shipments and is expected to account for approximately 33% of all mobile robots sold annually out to 2030. However, it has been affected by factors including weaker than expected economic performance impacting domestic demand, lower relative prices for mobile robots and slow uptake of electric vehicles. In the future, the prospect of tariffs in the US and Europe could further reduce demand, while recently announced stimulus policies could boost China’s domestic market. The forecast period will also see market growth accelerate in other regions, particularly the rest of APAC, with strong increases also anticipated in the United States and EMEA.

Chinese vendors continue to dominate the global mobile robot market

Ash Sharma, CCO & VP of Research at Interact Analysis, comments: “While adoption remains modest today and the socio-political climate is constraining growth, the rapid advances in mobile robotics and the flexibility these solutions offer are setting the foundation for transformative growth. By 2030, labor shortages and shifting supply chain dynamics will make mobile robots indispensable across logistics and manufacturing, even as economic challenges slow near-term adoption rates.”

About the report

Our well-respected market report provides insight and analysis into the mobile robot industry. The report focuses on material handling applications in manufacturing and logistics environments, which accounts for the bulk of AGV & AMR revenues.

The Premium version of this report provides ‘tertiary-level analysis’ which models demand for mobile robots by country.

About Interact Analysis

With over 200 years of combined experience, Interact Analysis is the market intelligence authority for global supply chain automation. Our research covers the entire automation value chain – from the technology used to automate factory production, through inventory storage and distribution channels, to the transportation of the finished goods. The world’s leading companies trust us to surface robust insights and opportunities for technology-driven growth. To learn more, visit www.InteractAnalysis.com.