The year's largest robot census is out, safety rules for robot cells have been rewritten and automakers are widening humanoid trials. The figures and moves below matter most for plant teams.
What the latest factory robot data shows.
5 million industrial robots operating in factories worldwide, a record (IFR World Robotics 2026, 2025)
~10,500 industrial robots installed in India in 2025, up 15% (IFR World Robotics 2026, 2025)
655,000 industrial robot installations worldwide forecast for 2026 (IFR World Robotics 2026, 2026)
30,000+ vehicles BMW built with help from a Figure 02 humanoid in its pilot (The Robot Report, 2025)
IFR: five million robots now work in factories, with India sixth for installs
· Market
The International Federation of Robotics' World Robotics 2026 report counts a record 5 million industrial robots in operation after factories installed more than 600,000 new units in 2025, up 11%. China took 59% of installations, the US moved up to second place, and India installed almost 10,500 robots, up 15%, ranking sixth.
Why it matters: Robots are now standard equipment across many sectors and countries, India included. As fleets grow, skilled technicians become the constraint, so budget for training and support alongside the robots themselves.
ABB's E-Device lets operators run robots from their own tablet or PC
· Launch
ABB Robotics introduced E-Device, a compact safety interface that lets workers operate, program and monitor OmniCore-controlled robots and cobots from their own tablets or PCs. It adds an emergency stop and a three-position enabling switch built to meet the new ISO 10218:2025 safety standard, and links to ABB's programming and simulation tools.
Why it matters: ISO 10218 was revised in 2025, and new cells will be judged against it. When you shortlist arms or cobots, ask how each controller meets the updated rules for teaching and manual operation.
BMW moves Figure 03 humanoids into parts sequencing at its Spartanburg plant
· Deployment
BMW Group said it will deploy Figure AI's Figure 03 humanoid at Plant Spartanburg in South Carolina, picking unsorted parts from containers and sorting them into sequencing trolleys for assembly workers. It follows an 11-month pilot in which the earlier Figure 02 helped build more than 30,000 BMW X3s by inserting sheet-metal parts for welding.
Why it matters: Automakers are starting humanoids on repetitive handling, such as loading parts and sorting kits, in spaces built for people. Those stations are the realistic first candidates in most plants.
Reliance-backed Addverb seeks over $100M to build humanoid robots in India
· Funding
Addverb Technologies, backed by Reliance Industries, is seeking more than $100 million, its first major raise since 2021, to develop humanoid and quadruped robots and AI systems. The company builds sorting, material handling and factory automation robots, operates in over 25 countries and projects about 13 billion rupees in revenue this fiscal year.
Why it matters: More Indian robot makers means more choice for plants in India and beyond. Spec Cards on The Humanoid Group set local and imported robots out in one format, so they can be judged on equal terms.
Foxconn plans humanoid robots on its Houston AI server production line
· Deployment
Foxconn said its Houston, Texas plant, which builds AI servers for Nvidia, will be among the first to put humanoid robots powered by Nvidia's Isaac GR00T N model on its production lines. The companies expected deployment to begin in the first quarter of 2026, alongside vision AI agents for quality monitoring.
Why it matters: Electronics assembly is becoming a test bed for humanoids, not only car plants. High-mix lines with frequent product changes are where a general-purpose robot could justify itself over a dedicated cell.
SoftBank agrees to buy ABB's robotics business for $5.375 billion
· Market
SoftBank Group agreed to acquire ABB's robotics division, which employs about 7,000 people and is headquartered in Zurich, for $5.375 billion. The industrial robot business is being carved out into a new holding company, with closing expected in mid-to-late 2026 pending regulatory approvals in the EU, China and the US.
Why it matters: A change of owner at a major arm maker can shift product roadmaps, pricing and support. Plants running ABB robots should confirm service, spares and software commitments in writing at their next renewal.
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