China's dominance in mobile robot production
In 2025, Chinese companies accounted for almost 70% of global sales mobile robots, which confirms their dominant position in the market. According to data from the China Mobile Robot Industry Alliance (CMRA) and the New Strategy Mobile Robot Industry Research Institute (NSRI), the number of units sold worldwide reached 265,000 - an increase of 16.23% compared to the previous year. Of this, Chinese manufacturers achieved sales of approximately 182,000 units, which represents a 68.68% share of sales volume.
This is not just a matter of quantity - the Chinese industry has also achieved significant revenue. In 2025, its value reached 26.1 billion yuan, accounting for approximately 61.46% of the global market. The difference between the sales share and revenue value indicates the strong position of Chinese companies in mass production and low costs, which enable competitive pricing in global markets.
Scaling production and international expansion
Enlarged imageClose zoomPrevious imageChina's dominance is not limited to domestic sales. In 2025, exports of Chinese mobile robots generated revenue of 8.5 billion yuan - an increase of 25% year-on-year. An example is the company Geekplus, which in the same year achieved total revenue of 3.171 billion yuan, of which 75.3% came from foreign markets.
The growth in exports is related to the intensification of international expansion by Chinese manufacturers. At the same time, there is a growing need to build local sales networks, technical support and meet regulatory requirements in different countries. This is changing the competition - from price competition to competing at the level of services, system integration and product life cycle value.
Transitioning from transportation to full automation
Chinese companies are no longer limited to producing basic AGV/AMR mobile robots. In 2025, they expanded their offer to include new classes of devices - including autonomous forklifts, pallet robots, CTUs, heavy AGVs and mobile manipulators. This allows them to transition from transportation to full automation of logistics operations.
Integration with technologies such as computer vision, artificial intelligence, and industrial robotics enables the development of applications beyond simple movement - for example, in pick-and-place systems or packaging automation within factories. This is changing the market: Chinese companies are not only manufacturing devices but also creating comprehensive integration solutions.
Challenges and the future of global competition
Although China has a strong position in manufacturing, its future depends on its ability to build global brands, develop advanced technology platforms, and maintain stable international operations. This requires not only investment in software development but also compliance with diverse legal requirements, data security, and digital information transfer.
According to forecasts by CMRA and NSRI, the next step will be a shift from price-based competition to value-based competition - including service quality, system flexibility, and long-term customer collaboration. This may be the key to survival in Western markets, where customers are increasingly looking not only for cheap equipment but also for comprehensive technology partnerships.
Challenges and the future of global competition
Although China has a strong position in manufacturing, its future depends on its ability to build global brands, develop advanced technology platforms, and maintain stable international operations. This requires not only investment in software development but also compliance with diverse legal requirements, data security, and digital information transfer. According to forecasts by CMRA and NSRI, the next step will be a shift from price-based competition to value-based competition - including service quality, system flexibility, and long-term customer collaboration. This may be the key to survival in Western markets, where customers are increasingly looking not only for cheap equipment but also for comprehensive technology partnerships. In the context of global competition, Chinese companies must not only maintain their advantage in mass production and costs but also invest in local service networks,
data security, and compliance with digital standards such as GDPR or local data storage regulations. An example is the growing need to adapt systems to meet security requirements in the European Union, where data related to logistics operations may be subject to additional controls. In this context, the future lies not only in the number of units sold but also in the ability to build lasting customer relationships by offering comprehensive integration solutions that include not only hardware but also software, data analysis, and technical support throughout the product lifecycle. This approach allows Chinese companies to move from being a supplier to a strategic partner in global automation processes.
