Japan's industrial robot orders hit new record in 2022

Labor shortages and global EV push provide tailwind for automation

20230126N industrial robots

Japanese industrial robots at an Audi plant in Brussels. (Photo courtesy of Audi)

YASUFUMI TSUGE, Nikkei staff writer

TOKYO -- Orders for industrial robots from Japanese manufacturers hit a record 955.8 billion yen ($7.35 billion) in 2022, up 1.6% from the previous year, the Japan Robot Association said Thursday, citing data from association member companies.

Strong demand for production line automation due to the global labor shortage and the shift to electric vehicles underpinned the growth in orders, capping three consecutive years of increases.

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