Global Automated Guided Vehicle Market Size, Forecast, and Trend Highlights Over 2025-2037
Automated Guided Vehicle Market size was valued at USD 5.22 billion in 2024 and is likely to cross USD 30.7 billion by 2037, registering more than 14.6% CAGR during the forecast period, i.e., 2025-2037. In 2025, the industry size of the automated guided vehicle (AGV) is evaluated at USD 5.75 billion.
The increased incidence of injuries and accidents within production and storage facilities is expected to drive growth in the automated guided vehicle market. According to the International Labour Organization, the annual mortality due to work-related accidents and diseases around the globe crossed 3 million in 2023. Over 63% of the total global fatal occupational injuries, 200,000, originated from Agriculture, construction, forestry, fishing, and manufacturing industries. In addition, work accidents caused 2.6 million deaths in the same year. On the other hand, AGVs can reduce fatalities and increase industrial output by improving worker safety and plant security, signifying a continuous surge in this sector.
The increasing popularity of industrial automation is also contributing to the expansion of the automated guided vehicle market. Being a crucial asset for enterprises in enhancing productivity and reducing workforce costs, these tools have become an essential part of this Industry 4 transformation. On this note, the International Federation of Robotics published the World Robotics 2024 Report, which revealed that over 4.2 million robots were operating in factories worldwide, representing a 10% increase from 2023. It also mentioned the annual robotic system installation to surpass 0.5 million in the same year. This showcases the inflation in the adoption rate in this sector
Automated Guided Vehicle Sector: Growth Drivers and Challenges
Growth Drivers
- Industrial integration of data-driven solutions: Technology developments such as AI and machine learning (ML) have showcased the ability to enhance financial output and efficiency in past years. Thus, it is evident that more manufacturers are willing to invest in the automated guided vehicle market. Testifying this fact, the German Electrical and Electronic Manufacturers’ Association reported that the global expenditure on cognitive and AI-powered systems obtained USD 77.6 billion in 2022. AI & ML showed the potential to create an additional value of USD 2 trillion in manufacturing and supply chain planning in 2020. It also predicted the economic contribution of this technology to the manufacturing industry to reach USD 27.0 billion by 2027.
- Rapid expansion in online business: As the roadmap of digitalizing business processes consists of e-commerce platforms, the demand for efficient fulfillment centers and smart warehouses is rising. For instance, in 2021, the value of global e-commerce sales accounted for USD 25 trillion across 43 developed and developing countries, which reached USD 27.0 trillion in 2022 (United Nations). Thus, the boom in this industry in recent years is pushing companies to seek solutions to streamline their inventory management and order picking, magnifying investments in the automated guided vehicle market.
Challenges
- Exorbitant cost of AGV installation and upkeep: Increasing concern about notable initial investments is one of the main reasons that may hinder growth in the automated guided vehicle market. The upfront costs for associated hardware, software, and integration are significantly high, which often deters the overall production or warehousing budget of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). In addition, the complex and time-consuming layouts of the AGV ecosystem require skilled operators, causing additional expenses. Moreover, these factors accumulatively create an economic barrier to wide adoption and implementation.
Automated Guided Vehicle Market: Key Insights
| Report Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
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Base Year |
2024 |
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Forecast Year |
2025-2037 |
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CAGR |
14.6% |
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Base Year Market Size (2024) |
USD 5.22 billion |
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Forecast Year Market Size (2037) |
USD 30.7 billion |
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Regional Scope |
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Automated Guided Vehicle Segmentation
Type (Tow Vehicles, Unit Load Carriers, Forklift Trucks, Assembly Line Vehicles, Pellet Trucks)
The tow vehicles segment is poised to hold an automated guided vehicle market share of over 40% by the end of 2037. Towing operations are widely implemented across different production lines of heavy industries, such as automotive, highlighting the significance of this segment in revenue generation. In addition, these commodities are becoming indispensable for material transport due to their high load capacity, flexibility, and operational efficacy while being an affordable option. For instance, in June 2023, Dematic introduced a third-generation freezer-rated AVD model. This transport system is equipped with cutting-edge sensors and navigation technology to offer unmatched occupational safety, particularly in cold storage facilities.
Application (Logistics & Warehousing, Raw Material Handling, Trailer Loading, Assembly, Packaging)
The logistics & warehousing segment is expected to garner a significant share of around 35% in the automated guided vehicle market over the discussed timeframe. The increasing demand for smart warehousing around the world is escalating this segment’s captivity in this sector. With the intensification of online shopping worldwide, the requirement for efficient order fulfillment is rising. According to a study released by IEEE Xplore, in 2023, the 3 per 4 employees in a warehouse had a workload over 100%. AGVs are specifically designed to automate crucial roles, such as picking, packing, and storing, faster and more accurately to reduce this burden. Thus, the paramount speed and high-volume orders, coupled with the deep penetration of AI and robotics in storage facilities, are also a few of the major drivers in this category.
Our in-depth analysis of the global AGV market includes the following segments:
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Type |
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Battery Type |
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Application |
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Vishnu Nair
Head - Global Business DevelopmentCustomize this report to your requirements — connect with our consultant for personalized insights and options.
Automated Guided Vehicle Industry - Regional Synopsis
APAC Market Forecast
The Asia Pacific automated guided vehicle market is anticipated to hold 32% of the revenue share throughout the assessed period. In developing countries such as Japan, China, and India, the regional e-commerce and manufacturing industries are gaining momentum. Thus, a large workforce is required to manage factory operations more efficiently, heightening the frequency of occupational accidents. As per the International Labour Organization, 60% of global work-related mortalities originated from Asia Pacific in 2023. As a result, this scenario is creating new business opportunities for domestic and global pioneers in this sector. On this note, in January 2024, Sumitomo Heavy Industries launched a new compact drive for space-saving in smartris, including AGVs.
The e-commerce industry in India was valued at USD 123 billion in 2024, which is predicted to reach USD 292.3 billion by the end of 2028 with a staggering CAGR of 18.7%. On the other hand, the country’s online retail industry is predicted to surpass USD 325.0 billion by 2030, whereas Google, Meta, Amazon, and Flipkart accumulatively generated over USD 7.1 billion in advertising revenue in 2024 (IBEF). This exponential boom in this category indicates an enlarging consumer base and a promising profit margin for the market. Moreover, the lucrative trading environment in India is fostering new opportunities and attracting more companies to invest and participate.
North America Market Statistics
The AGV market in North America is poised to follow a remarkable pace of growth by 2037. The region is pledged with the strong presence of global pioneers in this field and uplifting industrial output through automation. It can be testified by the region’s contribution, over 61%, in the USD 75.5 billion worth of rise in the global AI industry in 2023 (German Electrical and Electronic Manufacturers’ Association). Thus, the North America landscape is inspiring leaders in this merchandise to bring innovation to this landscape. For instance, in February 2024, Mitsubishi Logisnext Americas group unveiled its Jungheinrich warehouse products and Rocrich AGV Solutions at MODEX 2024. These commodities are specifically engineered for material handling operations.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the number of fatal work injuries registered in the U.S. was 5283 in 2023, where the transportation and warehousing segment had the 2nd highest rate of fatalities. This demography signifies the need for greater investments in industrial automation, representing a progressive future for the AGV market. The country’s leadership in technology integration, such as smart warehousing and AI management modules, in the primary workflow is also fueling its propagation in this sector. Currently, several domestic and global tech leaders are focusing on improving the quality and durability of AGVs. For instance, in January 2024, EnerSys introduced a wireless AGV charger, NexSys, to automate charging and eliminate the need for frequent maintenance.
Companies Dominating the Automated Guided Vehicle Landscape
- Swisslog Holding AG
- Company Overview
- Business Strategy
- Key Product Offerings
- Financial Performance
- Key Performance Indicators
- Risk Analysis
- Recent Development
- Regional Presence
- SWOT Analysis
- SEEGRID Corporation
- Hyster-Yale Materials Handling, Inc.
- Bastian Solutions, Inc.
- ELETTRIC80 S.P.A.
- Fetch Robotics, Inc.
- Hit Robot Group
- EK Robotics
- Seegrid Corporation
- KUKA AG
- Murata Machinery Ltd.
- Stellantis
- Scott Technology
Key players in the automated guided vehicle (AGV) market are currently targeting large production and storage houses to generate maximum revenue. They are forming strategic alliances with customer entities to maintain a long-term business flow. In this regard, in January 2024, XSQUARE Technologies, in partnership with Coca-Cola, introduced five new autonomous forklifts at Coca-Cola's regional beverage concentrate plant in Singapore. As a part of Coca-Cola’s digital transformation roadmap, both partners collaboratively worked to embrace Industry 4 capabilities, promoting the advantages of AGVs and solidifying XSQUARE’s leadership in the Asia Pacific landscape. Such key players are:
Recent Developments
- In March 2025, Scott Technology launched a next-generation automated guided vehicle (AGV), NexBot, at ProMat 2025 to make automation more accessible, cost-effective, and easier to deploy. The modular approach of this vehicle is designed for warehousing, manufacturing, logistics, and e-commerce.
- In February 2025, Stellantis announced its plans to produce 1,000 automated guided vehicles (AGV) annually at its Kenitra plant in Morocco. The plant has the capacity to assemble 1 AGV every 3 hours, solidifying the company’s position as one of the biggest manufacturers in this field.
- Report ID: 3704
- Published Date: May 14, 2025
- Report Format: PDF, PPT
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