In 2022, the data of China’s mobile robot industry will be released

In 2022, most mobile robot companies will be under operating pressure from different aspects, but we can still see some positive signals released by the industry, such as the overall growth rate of the mobile robot market in 2022 will still maintain a level of nearly 27%. The demand in the new energy industry has increased by nearly 70%, the demand in overseas markets is strong, and capital continues to flow in.

In 2023, China’s mobile robot market may not usher in a retaliatory rebound, but it will never be as powerless and helpless as in 2022.

Gaogong Robot Industry Research Institute (GGII) centered on the mobile robot itself, conducted data research and verification on nearly a hundred companies in the upstream and downstream of the Industrial chain; now it is sorting out and publishing some data, hoping to provide a certain level of support for all parties in the mobile robot industry Assists in analysis and decision-making of participants.

　　Data description in this article

Research objects: mobile robot industry chain, including component companies, ontology companies, and system integrators

Data range: 2018-2022

Mobile Robots: including AGV, AMR, unmanned forklifts, bin robots, and composite robots, which are defined as AGV robots in a broad sense in China.

AGV: –Automated Guided Vehicle, also called AGV car, including magnetic guide AGV and KIVA-like AGV;

AMR: – Autonomous Mobile robotthat is, autonomous mobile robot, AMR is similar to AGV, but it does not need external infrastructure such as magnetic strips, guide rails, and QR codes, and does not include unmanned forklifts, bin robots, and composite robots.

Order amount: refers to the contract amount of mobile robot business of domestic enterprises.

Shipment: Refers to the actual quantity of products delivered by the enterprise.

Market Size: The total market value of all products shipped.

Industry Concentration Ratio (CRn): refers to the sum of the market shares of the top N companies with the largest market share in the industry.

　　1. Sales volume and scale of the Chinese market

The mobile robot industry is currently in a stage of rapid development. Under the epidemic control in 2022, the supply chain and delivery links of mobile robot companies will be greatly affected. Despite this, the sales of mobile robots in the Chinese market will still reach a new high in 2022, reaching 81,400 units, a year-on-year increase of 27.67%; the market size is 9.673 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 23.83%.

From January to February 2023, the market clearly shows signs of recovery. GGII believes that the demand suppressed by the epidemic will rebound in the first half of 2023. It is expected that the annual sales in 2023 will increase by nearly 45%. In the next five years, the sales of mobile robots in the Chinese market will increase Maintaining a compound growth rate of more than 40%, the market sales volume is expected to exceed 500,000 units by 2027, and the market size will exceed 45 billion yuan.

Sales volume and forecast of China’s mobile robot market from 2018 to 2027

　　

Data source: Gaogong Robotics Industry Research Institute (GGII)

2018-2027 China’s mobile robot market scale change trend

　　

Data source: Gaogong Robotics Industry Research Institute (GGII)

　　2. Export of mobile robots

Judging from the past three years, the enthusiasm of domestic mobile robot companies to go overseas is increasing year by year. On the one hand, domestic mobile robots already have global competitive advantages in terms of product cost performance, project delivery capabilities, and after-sales service capabilities; on the other hand, competition in the domestic market is becoming increasingly fierce, and companies urgently need to find new growth points, while overseas labor costs are high. , customers are less sensitive to ROI, and companies can obtain higher gross profit margins.

According to statistics, in 2022, the number of mobile robots exported by Chinese enterprises will be nearly 19,000 units, and the proportion of orders will exceed 25% for the first time, reaching 25.87%, an increase of nearly 4% compared with 2021.

At present, some enterprises such as Jizhijia, Kuaicang Intelligent, Muxing Intelligent, Hairou Innovation, Future Robotics and Juxing Technology have accounted for close to or even more than 50% of overseas orders; Youai Zhihe, Guozi Robotics, Stander Robotics, Enterprises such as Mawei Robot, Jiazhi Technology, and Xiangong Intelligent are actively entering overseas markets. (Click to view “List: Top 10 Overseas Orders of China Mobile Robot Enterprises in 2022”)

As more and more companies go overseas, the international market will gradually become the new main battlefield, and it is expected that the proportion of export orders will reach 30% in 2023.

The export proportion of Chinese mobile robot manufacturers (2021 vs 2022, according to the order amount)

　　

Data source: Gaogong Robotics Industry Research Institute (GGII)

　　3. Investment and financing of mobile robot industry

In 2022, domestic economic development will still face the triple pressure of demand contraction, supply shock, and weakening expectations. At the same time, the external environment will become more complex and uncertain in 2022, and the downward pressure on the domestic economy will be prominent; It appears to be more cautious, which is reflected in the higher requirements for the commercialization and profitability of mobile robot companies, and the project inspection cycle and financing cycle are also greatly lengthened.

According to incomplete statistics from GGII, a total of 33 financings will occur in China’s mobile robot market in 2022, involving an amount of 5.155 billion yuan. The Matthew effect in the financing market has gradually become prominent.

2017-2022 China Mobile Robotics/Logistics and Warehousing-related Financing Situation

　　

Data source: public information, Gaogong Robotics Industry Research Institute (GGII) collation

　　4. Market competition pattern

At this stage, China’s mobile robot market is still a competitive market, and the industry concentration is increasing year by year. In 2022, China’s mobile robot industry concentration CR8=45.05% (that is, the sum of the market share of the top 8 mobile robot manufacturers is 45.05%). Compared with 2021, it will increase by 1.61%. The Matthew effect has initially appeared, and the gap between manufacturers is gradually widening.

In terms of subdivision, although the unmanned forklift market is in the early stage of development, there are a large number of players in the market, and most manufacturers are in the stage of product polishing and scene trial, and downstream applications are scattered, so the industry concentration is relatively low (2022 CR4 =26.99%), the gap between manufacturers has not really widened. (Click to view “2022 Blue Book on the Development of Unmanned Forklift Industry”)

In contrast, as a new type of logistics solution, bin robots are also in the early stages of development, but currently the players in the market are dominated by head-moving robot companies, with fast product launch and concentrated downstream applications; the performance is that the industry is relatively concentrated. High (CR4=76.92% in 2022).

Concentration Ratio of China Mobile’s Robot and Segmented Track Industry in 2022 (by Shipment Volume)

　　

Data source: Gaogong Robotics Industry Research Institute (GGII)

According to GGII data, there are 41 companies with AGV business orders exceeding 100 million yuan in 2022. Among them, Hikvision Robotics and Jizhijia AGV business orders exceeded 2 billion yuan, and the actual shipments exceeded 10,000 units; in addition, the orders were 300-100 million There are 8 companies with 100-300 million in total, and 30 companies with 100-300 million.

Since 2022, Jingsong Intelligent and Kejie Intelligent have successfully landed on the Science and Technology Innovation Board, and Kunchuan Intelligent has successfully landed on the GEM; Rui Technology and Jiuwuhutong have entered the listing guidance stage.

2023-2025 is a critical period for competition in the mobile robot market, and the successful listing of leading companies will drive a new round of reshuffle in the market. GGII predicts that in the next three years, more and more companies will reach the listing threshold and enter the listing stage. In 2023, the first domestic company with AMR as its main business will be born, and there will be more than five mobile robots within three years. The relevant enterprises were successfully listed.

The distribution of the number of enterprises with AGV business orders exceeding 100 million in 2022

　　

Source: Gaogong Robot Industry Institute (GGII)

　　5. Distribution of product types

In 2022, it can be seen from various aspects such as new product releases, investment and financing levels, and market performance that unmanned forklifts, bin robots, and AMRs are the most popular segments at this stage. (Click to view the “Blue Book of Autonomous Mobile Robot (AMR) Industry Development in 2022”) According to GGII statistics, in 2022, the domestic market sales of unmanned forklifts, AMRs, and bin robots will be 11,300 units, 18,000 units, and 0.35 million units; The growth rates reached 53.43%, 45.19%, and 72.68% respectively; the proportion of sales corresponding to high-speed growth rose rapidly, respectively 13.90%, 22.08%, and 4.24%. Among them, the penetration rate of unmanned forklifts compared with industrial forklifts reached 1.65%, an increase of 0.7% compared with 2021.

Although KIVA-like AGV still has a share of nearly 50%, the sales volume in 2022 will drop by nearly 5% compared with 2021; mainly due to the slowdown in demand in key application industries of KIVA-like AGV such as e-commerce retail and logistics in 2022.

Mobile robot product type distribution (by shipment volume, 2021 vs 2022)

　　

Data source: Gaogong Robotics Industry Research Institute (GGII)

　　6. Distribution of application industries

In 2022, the demand for downstream application industries will be clearly differentiated, and new energy, automobiles, construction machinery and other industries will perform better. Among them, the shipments of the new energy industry (mainly lithium batteries and photovoltaics) will increase by nearly 70%. 3C, panels, e-commerce, 3PL, The demand for household appliances and other industries is relatively sluggish, and the structural differentiation of downstream industry demand is further intensified. (Click to view “Who is the TOP1 in each segment of mobile robots in 2022?”)

In 2023, although the demand of downstream industries has picked up to a certain extent, under the pressure of the domestic macro economy, GGII believes that the phenomenon of differentiation in industry demand will continue; it is expected that in 2023, lithium batteries (including energy storage), photovoltaics, and automotive industries will be used The proportion will further increase, and industries such as 3C and home appliances will recover to a limited extent.

Distribution of downstream application industries of mobile robots in the Chinese market in 2022 (by shipments)

　　

Data source: Gaogong Robotics Industry Research Institute (GGII)