China Is Falling Behind at the Sharp End of the Global Robot Race
While the country is good at producing mid- to low-range robots, competitors in Japan and Europe remain ahead in advanced robotics.
Japanese-made FANUC robot arms weld car parts at an auto plant of Dongfeng Peugeot Citroen Automobile Co., Ltd. in Wuhan, Hubei. Credit: IC Photo via Depositphotos
China’s industrial robot industry has undergone a dramatic transformation in the last few years, driven by insatiable end-user demand, strategic government support, rapid product development, and competitive pricing. Domestic manufacturers have captured a growing share of the local market, and there is increasing concern that China’s robot makers will do to the global robot industry what they’ve done to solar cells, batteries, and electric vehicles.
ABB's IRB 7720 industrial robot.
B
Exclusive longform investigative journalism, Q&As, news and analysis, and data on Chinese business elites and corporations. We publish China scoops you won't find anywhere else.
A weekly curated reading list on China from Andrew Peaple.
A daily roundup of China finance, business and economics headlines.
We offer discounts for groups, institutions and students. Go to our Subscriptions page for details.
European democracies, threatened by Vladimir Putin’s war on Ukraine and Donald Trump’s designs on Greenland, are embarking on historic changes in their defense posture. But China’s grip on the supply of tungsten, gallium and other vital raw materials threatens their plans.
The former official in both of the president’s terms discusses why Trump has become less hawkish on China, and his sudden departure from the administration last year.
We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.OKPrivacy policy
