Robotics, Automation Industry Remains Under Pressure

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The robotics and automation industry in Germany continues to face challenging conditions. For 2026, the VDMA Robotics + Automation Association expects revenues to decline by 5 percent to 14.1 billion euros. The main reasons are weak demand from key customer industries, geopolitical disruptions, and persistently unfavorable economic conditions.

The year 2025 was already marked by significant strain: industry revenues fell by 7 percent. This renewed decline underscores a continuing trend that exposes structural weaknesses and heightens pressure on companies and policymakers to act.

“The situation remains challenging. Our industry is simultaneously struggling with weak demand, geopolitical uncertainty, and burdensome location factors,” says Dr. Olaf Munkelt, Chairman of VDMA Robotics + Automation. “This makes it all the more important that we decisively strengthen our competitiveness – our levers here are customer centricity, innovation, and courage. At the same time, we must pick up speed and become faster in implementation. The task of policymakers is to significantly improve the framework conditions for entrepreneurial action now.”

Competitiveness as a Strategic Priority

The association emphasizes that the current weakness is structural in nature and goes beyond cyclical effects. International competitors – particularly from Asia – continue to expand their position and gain market share.

“The long-term growth drivers – digitalization, AI, smart production, and automation – remain intact,” Munkelt stresses. “We now need to create the conditions for German and European robotics and automation to return clearly to a leading position. We need rapid reduction of bureaucracy and competitive cost structures in order to return to a growth trajectory.”