More than 5 million industrial robots are already operating in factories around the world, a record number. However, humanoid robots remain a niche technology and are mostly tested in pilot projects.
More than 5 million industrial robots are already operating in factories around the world, a record number. However, humanoid robots remain a niche technology and are mostly tested in pilot projects.
This is reported by Euronews , citing a new report from the International Federation of Robotics (IFR).
According to the organization, in 2025 the number of industrial robots in the world increased by about 9% and exceeded 5 million. Over the year, factories purchased more than 600,000 new industrial robots. Robotization is happening most rapidly in Asia. China last year provided more than half of all new purchases of industrial robots in the world. In Europe, the growth rate is noticeably lower.
And only about 7,000 humanoid robots have been sold in total. So far, humanoid robots occupy only a small share of the market. Also, some of these robots are purchased not for full-fledged work, but for data collection and AI training.
Automakers BMW, Tesla and others are already testing humanoids in production, but these are mostly small pilot projects. Instead, conventional robotic arms and wheeled platforms remain cheaper, simpler and better suited to specific tasks in factories and warehouses.
Previously, dev.ua wrote that Figure humanoid robots are already working on the BMW production line in the USA.
