Is recovery around the corner? Robot orders in first half of 2003 were up by 26% to the highest level ever recorded.
Worldwide growth in the period 2003-2006 forecast at an average annual rate of 7.4%. Household robots are starting to take off.
UNECE issues its 2003 World Robotics survey

Robot investment in France fell by 14% in 2002 but the robot stock grew by 7%

There is still steam in the German locomotive: its industry is consolidating its position as the world's second largest user and producer of industrial robots - Growth projected to be at least 4% per year in 2003-2006

Italy is Europe's second and the world's fourth largest
user of industrial robots - Robot investment is projected to grow at an annual rate of 5% in 2003-2006

In 2002, the robot stock in Spain grew by 12% - the Spanish motor vehicle industry is more robotized than that of France

In 2002, robot investment in the United Kingdom plummeted by 61% - Robot use in the United Kingdom lagging far behind the rest of Europe

Strong recovery of robot investment is projected in the United States for 2003