China builds more robots in one year than America in a decade

The robotics industry is being reshaped as China cements its dominance by installing more robots in factories than any other nation on Earth.

In 2024 alone, Chinese factories added nearly 300,000 new robotic units, which is nearly nine times more than the United States.

This massive expansion has pushed China’s total count to over two million robots actively working in factories, while the US lags far behind with just a fraction of that number.

The gap highlights how strategic policy, financing, and long-term planning have propelled China to the forefront of global manufacturing automation.

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China has installed more than 150,000 new robots every year

China’s rise is no accident.

In 2015, the country launched its ‘Made in China 2025’ campaign, aiming to reduce dependence on foreign technology.

Part of the plan was to dominate critical industries such as robotics, semiconductors, and artificial intelligence.

The government poured billions into subsidies, cheap state-backed loans, and assistance with acquiring foreign expertise.

This approach has allowed Chinese robotics firms to flourish, transforming once import-dependent factories into hubs of domestic innovation.

Since 2017, China has installed more than 150,000 new robots every year, according to data from the International Federation of Robotics.

Today, its factories produce a third of all manufactured goods worldwide, with ‘dark factories’ using robots to manufacture goods around the clock.

This is more than the US, Germany, Japan, South Korea, and Britain combined.

By contrast, American factories installed only 34,000 robots last year, underscoring the scale of China’s lead.

Overall, China now operates five times as many industrial robots as the United States.

China is dominating the robotics industry

Another critical shift came in 2024: for the first time, the majority of robots installed in Chinese factories were made domestically.

Roughly three-fifths of last year’s installations were locally produced, signaling the country’s growing self-sufficiency.

This progress is aided by an ecosystem of suppliers specializing in advanced robotic components like motorized joints and sensors, which are essential for both industrial and humanoid robots.

The robotics industry is also gathering momentum.

Chinese companies like Unitree Robotics are building humanoid machines that are capable of performing kung fu moves with astonishing accuracy and balance.

In fact, they’re retailing for around $6,000 apiece, which is far cheaper than rivals such as Boston Dynamics, which was acquired by Hyundai for nearly a billion dollars in 2021.

Backed by government incentives, these Chinese firms are scaling quickly and aiming for global expansion.

China’s advantage also lies in its manpower and artificial intelligence.

A large pool of skilled engineers and programmers fuels the sector, even as demand for installation specialists drives salaries upward.

Meanwhile, advances in AI ensure that robots are not only deployed, but constantly monitored and optimized.

Together, these strengths explain how China is building more robots in a single year than America can in a decade.

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