North American robot orders climb 24.8% in Q3
The Robot Report: North American robot orders climb 24.8% in Q3 of 2026, says A3
While automotive OEM orders declined in the first half of 2026, they picked up in Q3. Source: A3 North American companies ordered 10,989 robots valued at $723.5 million in the third quarter of 2026, according to the latest data from the Association for Advancing Automation, or A3. Orders increased 24.8% in units and 26.1% in value compared with the third quarter of 2025, making it the strongest quarter of the year so far, it said. The third-quarter gains pushed total orders for the first nine mo
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North American companies ordered significantly more robots in the third quarter of 2026, with orders increasing 24.8% in units and 26.1% in value compared to the same quarter the previous year. This growth matters because it represents the strongest quarter of the year and signals a diversifying robotics market, as gains were distributed across multiple industries including semiconductors, electronics, life sciences, and automotive component suppliers, rather than concentrated in a single sector. The broader context shows that after automotive manufacturing declined in the first half of 2026, orders recovered in the third quarter, while collaborative robots also posted strong gains. Manufacturing activity was expanding during this period, with nine consecutive months of expansion recorded by a manufacturing index.
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