• Germany’s robotics and automation industry is preparing for another tough year. • TheVDMA Robotics + Automation Association, a German trade group, expects revenue to fall 5% in 2026 to about €14.1 billion.That follows a 7% decline in 2025, marking the second straight year of contraction for one of the world’s leading robotics clusters. • Industry leaders say the problems go beyond a normal economic slowdown. • Weak demand from key customers has hurt orders. • At the same time, geopolitical tensions and broader economic uncertainty have made companies more cautious about investing in new automation equipment. • “The situation remains challenging.

Article Summaries:

  • The VDMA Robotics + Automation Association warns that Germany’s robotics sector is slipping in the global race. It projects a 5 % revenue decline in 2026 to about €14.1 billion, following a 7 % drop in 2025, marking the second consecutive contraction for a leading robotics cluster. Weak demand from key customers, geopolitical uncertainty, and high costs are cited as key drivers. The VDMA stresses that regulatory burdens and slow decision‑making in Europe hinder competitiveness, while Asian rivals expand faster. It calls for stronger customer focus, innovation, and policy reforms to restore Germany’s position as a robotics leader.
  • Germany’s robotics and automation sector is facing a second consecutive year of contraction, with the VDMA Robotics + Automation Association forecasting a 5 % revenue decline in 2026 to roughly €14.1 billion after a 7 % drop in 2025. Weak demand from key customers, geopolitical uncertainty, and high costs are cited as key factors, while Asian competitors expand faster, eroding Germany’s market share. The VDMA urges stronger customer focus, innovation, and regulatory reform to regain competitiveness. Despite a 5 % fall in German robot installations in 2024, the sector remains a major European player, though North America is rebounding with a 6.6 % rise in orders in 2025.

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