Gap Widens Between China and Germany in Global Robotics Race
While Germany falls behind in robot investments in its factories, China's rapid expansion of its robot fleet has driven the installation ratio between the two countries to 14 times.
Germany continues to fall behind China in the race for factory robot installations. According to data from the International Federation of Robotics, robot installations in German factories continue to decline, while China's rapid rise in this field has widened the gap between the two countries to a 14-to-1 ratio.
Regret Following the Sale of Kuka
European regulators' approval a decade ago of the sale of Kuka, a robot manufacturer that is a symbol of German industrial innovation, to the Chinese company Midea is viewed with regret today.
As Europe tries to shift into a higher gear to unleash its robotics and artificial intelligence potential, Germany faces the problem of falling behind in the global race.
Three-Year Decline in German Factories
According to data from the International Federation of Robotics, robot installations in German factories are projected to decline for the third consecutive year.
With China's massive transformation, annual installations in Germany have dropped to around 25,000, and a further decline is expected this year.
China's Place in Global Manufacturing Power
China transformed its manufacturing sector and established global dominance in this field with the robot revolution campaign it launched in 2014.
Today, nearly half of the five million robots working in factories worldwide are located in China, and nearly three-fifths of global installations took place in this country last year.
Chinese Pressure on the European Economy
The influx of low-cost vehicles, chemicals, and machinery from China is weakening Europe's factories, leading to the loss of about 14,000 industrial jobs every month in Germany.
As calls for tougher trade measures against Beijing grow, the European Union's trade deficit with China has reached 1 billion euros per day.