To meet the growing market demand, many mobile robot manufacturers have announced expansion plans this year, with a cumulative production capacity exceeding 100,000 units. This wave of expansion reflects the companies’ optimistic outlook on the industry and indicates that the mobile robot sector is set to experience more robust development.
PIX Moving: Building a Factory in Japan
In August, PIX Moving and TIS Inc. jointly announced the establishment of a joint venture in Japan, Pixel Intelligence Co., Ltd. PIX Moving’s first overseas robot manufacturing plant will be located in Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan. The factory will focus on mass production of robot products such as Robo-Bus, Robo-Shop, and Robo-Go, aiming to achieve local production and delivery in Japan while continuing to advance its international market strategy.
i-Cow: 5,000 Heavy-duty Mobile Robots
In June 2024, i-Cow completed its first round of equity financing. The company is also investing over 100 million RMB in constructing the first phase of the “Suzhou i-COW Intelligent Logistics Technology Co., Ltd.” project in Suqian. The facility, with an office and production area of approximately 36,000 square meters, is expected to reach an annual production capacity of over 5,000 heavy-duty mobile robots upon completion.
Junion Tech: 35,000 AGVs and 150,000 LiDAR Units
The Suzhou Junion Tech mobile robot and LiDAR project are located on the north side of Wusong Road and the west side of Wusongjiang Avenue in the Wusongjiang Technology Industrial Park, covering an area of 59 acres with a building area of approximately 100,000 square meters. With a total investment of 1 billion RMB, the project plans to invest 300 million RMB in 2024 to establish its headquarters for research, testing, and production. Upon completion, it aims to produce 35,000 smart mobile robots and 150,000 LiDAR units annually to effectively meet downstream market demands. The project officially obtained its construction permit in May 2024 and is currently in the pile foundation construction phase.
Hangcha Intelligent: Annual Production of Over 10,000 AGVs
On May 20, 2024, the “Hangcha Technology Park Phase IV: Hangcha Intelligent Annual Production Base for 10,000 Sets of Automation Equipment” officially commenced construction. Once completed, the facility will have an annual production capacity of 10,000 AGVs (AMRs), 1,000 stacker cranes, and 100,000 meters of conveyor lines. The project is expected to generate 1.03 billion RMB in revenue in its first year of operation, contribute approximately 70 million RMB in various taxes, and create around 400 new jobs for the local area.
AutoStore: Targeting 15,000 Mobile Robots
In the first half of 2024, AutoStore established an assembly plant in Rayong Province, Thailand, bringing advanced robot production closer to major markets such as Australia, Japan, Singapore, and South Korea. The new facility in Thailand will enhance the speed and efficiency of deploying AutoStore’s automated storage and retrieval systems in the Asia-Pacific region’s warehouses. The plant is expected to create about 80 direct jobs in the first year, with plans to expand to 200-300 positions by 2026. Over the next 18 months, AutoStore aims to produce 15,000 robots, doubling its current production capacity to meet growing customer demand.
Blue Ocean Robot: Gaoyou Intelligent Equipment R&D and Manufacturing Project
In January 2024, Guangzhou Blue Ocean Robot System Co., Ltd. held the groundbreaking ceremony for its Gaoyou Intelligent Equipment R&D and Manufacturing Project in the Gaoyou Economic Development Zone. The project has a total planned investment of 300 million RMB, including 200 million RMB in fixed assets (with 50 million RMB allocated for equipment). The construction will cover at least 80,000 square meters for the factory, office, and various ancillary buildings. Once fully operational, the project is expected to achieve annual sales of 650 million RMB and generate 26 million RMB in taxes per year.
