China as a global leader - dominance in sales and applications
In 2025, the global market mobile robots reached a value of $6.3 billion, which represents almost three times the level from 2020. During the same period, the Chinese market grew from 981 million to 2.61 billion dollars. This is not only dynamic internal growth - it is also a signal of China's growing position in the global market. Chinese companies accounted for 68.68% of mobile robot sales volume this year, confirming their dominance in mass production and low-cost scenarios.
Interestingly, even in terms of sales value, Chinese companies accounted for 61.46% of the market. This suggests that they are not only numerous - but their products are also competitive in the price-value category. This position is made possible by integrated production, a fast supply chain response and economies of scale, which allow for faster deployment in factories and warehouses. This position is made possible by integrated production, a fast supply chain response and economies of scale, which allow for faster deployment in factories and warehouses.
Data indicates that Chinese companies are not just manufacturers of low-cost solutions: many of them are developing their own navigation systems, fleet management software, and cloud computing integration. However, the lack of data in the report on specific technological innovations or comparative tests does not allow for a definitive statement as to whether Chinese solutions are superior in terms of performance, safety, or flexibility. What is clear is that the global market is becoming increasingly dependent on supplies from China, which may affect the logistics strategy of companies in other regions.
Asia as a hub for applications - logistics and manufacturing at the forefront
Enlarged imageClose zoomPrevious imageIn 2025, Asia accounted for the largest regional zone for mobile robot applications, representing 44.44% of the global volume. This means that more than half of all mobile robot deployments take place there - mainly in China, but also in South Korea, Japan and other Asian countries. In this context, Chinese companies not only manufacture devices, but are also major customers and integrators.
The next largest market was North America with 24.13%, and Europe with 23.49%. This shows that although Asia dominates in terms of the number of deployments, Western markets remain important, especially in the context of advanced solutions and integration with ERP or MES systems. However, even there, Chinese companies have a strong influence - both through direct sales and technology partnerships.
It is worth emphasizing that Asia's dominance is not limited to manufacturing - it is also the region with the most intensive investments in logistics automation. Chinese ports and industry are actively deploying mobile robots on a large scale, which confirms China's growing role as a global logistics and production hub.
Does China's dominance mean technological superiority?
The dominance of Chinese manufacturers in terms of sales volume does not necessarily mean technological superiority. Data indicates that their advantage lies in pricing and scale - which is crucial in mass implementation scenarios. However, it is worth noting that Chinese companies are not only producers of low-cost solutions: many of them are developing their own navigation systems, fleet management software, and cloud computing integration.
However, the lack of data in the report on specific technological innovations or comparative tests does not allow for a definitive statement as to whether Chinese solutions are better in terms of performance, safety, or flexibility. What is clear is that the global market is becoming increasingly dependent on supplies from China, which may affect the logistics strategy of companies in other regions.
In the context of global competition, Chinese companies are leveraging their advantages in price and scale to expand their presence beyond Asia. Their growing market position is not only the result of local production - it is also the result of strategic decisions regarding exports and integration with global supply chains.
Data perspectives and limitations
The data comes from reports by CMRA and NSRI, which are industry organizations operating in China. Although their sources are reliable, it is worth remembering that they may have a tendency to emphasize the successes of Chinese manufacturers. The lack of independent comparative analyses or field tests in the report limits the ability to assess the technical quality of the solutions.
In addition, the data only concerns sales and applications - it does not contain information about the durability of devices, maintenance costs, or the degree of integration with existing systems. This means that although the market is growing dynamically, the specific value for the end user (e.g., reduction of operating costs) requires further research.
It is also worth noting that the report does not contain data on investments in research and development (R&D), which may affect the assessment of the long-term competitiveness of Chinese manufacturers. The lack of such information limits a full analysis of the technological potential of the market.
