The International Federation of Robotics (IFR) lifted the bonnet on the use of industrial robots in the Japanese automotive industry, revealing in 2024 the sector clocked the highest number of installations since the turn of the decade.

In preliminary annual figures, the trade organisation reported 13,000 units had been installed by the sector in Japan, an 11 per cent year-on-year increase. It noted the only segment to have deployed more in the country was the electrical and electronics industry.

It added car manufacturers comprised around a quarter of annual robot installations in Japan.

IFR president Takayuki Ito highlighted the country is prominent in terms of robot production and industrial usage.

“Japan is the world’s predominant robot manufacturing country representing 38 per cent of global robot production,” he said, while noting during 2023 the country’s automotive industry was only behind peers in Slovenia, South Korea and Switzerland in terms of “robot density” with more than 1,500 machines per 10,000 employees.

The IFR noted the automotive sector in Japan “is currently undergoing a restructuring process in order to adapt to alternative powertrains”, highlighting diversification into new power and engine types would “require the appropriate production technology”.