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In 2022, India set a new record with 4,945 industrial robot sales. Compared to the previous year (2020: 3,215 units), this number grew by 54%. In terms of annual installations, India currently ranks tenth globally.
"India is one of the world's fastest-growing industrial economies," says Marina Bill, President of the International Federation of Robotics. "Within five years, the operational stock of industrial robots has more than doubled, reaching 33,220 units in 2021. This corresponds to an average annual growth rate of 16% since 2016."
Today, measured by manufacturing output, India is the world's fifth-largest economy. According to World Bank data, India's manufacturing value added was $443.9 billion in 2021, representing a 21.6% increase from 2020.
The automotive industry remains the largest customer for India's robotics sector, accounting for 31% of installations in 2021. Installations more than doubled to 1,547 units (+108%). India's general industry led by metal industry (308 units (-9%)), rubber and plastics industry (246 units (+27%)), and electrical/electronics industry (215 units (+98%)).
The long-term potential for robots in India becomes clearer when compared to China: in 2021, India reached a robot density of 148 units in the automotive industry, meaning the number of industrial robots per 10,000 employees. China's robot density was 131 units in 2010 and soared to 772 units in 2021.
The Indian government supports the growth of the industrial sector, viewing it as one of the key indicators affecting GDP. According to the International Monetary Fund, the country's approximately $3 trillion GDP now ranks fifth globally, alongside the UK and France, behind only Germany, Japan, China, and the United States.
India has traditionally been a popular destination for manufacturing nearshoring. The Indian government hopes the country will be considered for new diversification options, with manufacturing expected to benefit from government initiatives to enhance competitiveness and investor appeal. For example, the Production Linked Incentive scheme will continue until 2025, subsidizing companies that create production capacity in India's robotics customer industries such as automotive, metals, pharmaceuticals, and food processing.
India's new manufacturing capacity is an important step toward providing adequate education and employment opportunities for its people: according to UN data, India now has 1.4 billion people, exceeding China for the first time. This means India has a large and young workforce that can drive economic growth and innovation. By 2027, India is expected to have the world's largest working-age population.
