Sales increased by 14 percent in 2024. More than three-quarters of all mobile robots come from Asia – 11 percent from Europe. “Robot-as-a-service” gaining momentum. Around 102,900 robots for transport and logistics tasks were sold worldwide in 2024, according to the annual report “World Robotics 2025 – Service Robots” by the International Federation of Robotics (IFR).
The IFR annual report shows a total of 200,000 units sold in the service robotics sector. With a share of 51 percent, no other segment accounted for more robots than transport and logistics. Of the units sold, around 81,800 were mobile robots for intralogistics applications. These robots transport materials and goods both inside factories and outdoors; they are used in production supply and warehouses or for loading and unloading trucks and pallets.
Origin of Mobile Robots
The majority of mobile robots for intralogistics—nearly 84 percent—come from the Asia-Pacific region, followed by Europe with 11 percent and North and South America with 5 percent. Direct sales remain the most important sales channel. “Robot-as-a-service” offerings still represent a minority, but in 2024 they increased by 42 percent compared with the previous year.
“We are seeing strong demand for automation solutions with mobile robotics. At the same time, these projects often require considerable investment and capacity on the customer side. Simplifying the conditions for commissioning and deployment is and remains a key task for both suppliers and users. This is a dialogue that the VDMA supports through numerous initiatives,” says Sascha Schmel, Managing Director of the VDMA Materials Handling and Intralogistics Association.
Background on the “World Robotics” Annual Report
The market data in the World Robotics report are based on sample data; the figures are not extrapolated to represent the entire industry. All numbers in the World Robotics 2025 – Service Robots annual report are based on a sample of 294 companies. The VDMA Materials Handling and Intralogistics Association provides information on market developments in mobile robotics for intralogistics in cooperation with the IFR.
The full “World Robotics 2025 – Service Robots” report includes, in cooperation with the Fraunhofer IPA, a detailed analysis of service robotics by application class, a market assessment, expert interviews, and a comprehensive list of all service robot manufacturers known to the IFR. More information on the structure and content of the report is available at https://ifr.org/wr-service-robots/. The current annual report can be obtained directly from the IFR at https://ifr.org/worldrobotics.
Contributing to the Annual Report
The “World Robotics – Service Robots” report relies on active participation. Annual unit sales by application class are surveyed. The effort required for mobile-robotics suppliers is minimal, and reporting companies receive the statistics free of charge prior to publication. Interested suppliers can contact Anne Jurkat at aj@ifr.org or find more information at https://ifr.org/survey-participation.
