What Happened
Automation Demand Expands Across Non-Automotive Industries
North American companies ordered 9,055 robots valued at $543 million in the first quarter of 2026, according to the Association for Advancing Automation (A3). Despite a decline in automotive OEM orders, non-automotive industries such as life sciences, electronics, and food posted strong year-over-year gains. Collaborative robots also saw significant growth, with a 55.6% increase in units ordered. This data was first reported by Industrial Equipment News.