Survey shows a positive outlook for EV manufacturing

Automotive manufacturers worldwide are showing growing confidence in their ability to build electric vehicles efficiently and at scale, according to ABB Robotics’ latest Automotive Manufacturing Outlook Survey, as electric vehicle (EV) production becomes a more established and predictable manufacturing discipline.

Joerg Reger, managing director of ABB Robotics Automotive Business Line, said: “This year’s survey presents a more positive picture of EV manufacturing than we have seen in previous years. Key indicators such as manufacturing time, cost and integration show that EV production is increasingly becoming a known quantity. This is supported by sustained investment in automation, such as ABB Robotics delivering more autonomous and versatile robotics (AVR), capable of creating a leap in productivity and flexibility by combining key skills to autonomously plan and independently perform diverse, complex tasks in real time.”

The global survey, conducted in partnership with Automotive Manufacturing Solutions, shows that manufacturers in all major regions expect EV output to rise in 2026 compared with 2025, signalling continued commitment to electrification at the manufacturing level despite uneven consumer demand in some markets.

Confidence has also improved around the practical delivery of EV programmes. 51% of respondents say EVs and their key components are now easier to manufacture than a year ago, compared with just 8% who believe they have become harder to build. This suggests that EV assembly processes are becoming faster, more stable and less disruptive as experience grows, supported by developments in automation.

Improving efficiency
Cost trends reinforce this picture. More than four in 10 respondents (41%) report that EV manufacturing costs have decreased over the past 12 months, while a further 39% say costs have remained stable. Only 21% report rising costs, pointing to improving efficiency as EV platforms and supply chains mature.

However, the survey also highlights a measured, demand-led approach to powertrain strategy. While EV production is expected to continue increasing, manufacturers predict even stronger growth in hybrid powertrain manufacturing over the same period. This indicates that many producers view hybrid technologies as an important stepping stone, enabling them to balance electrification ambitions with real-world customer demand and operational flexibility.

Mr Reger said: “Manufacturers are no longer asking whether they can build EVs – they are focused on how to build them efficiently, profitably and alongside other powertrains. Investment in robotics, automation and flexible manufacturing is a key driver behind this growing confidence, helping producers scale EV output while remaining responsive to changing market conditions.”

As EV manufacturing continues to evolve, the survey findings point to an industry that is steadily converting ambition into operational confidence, underpinned by automation-led approaches to efficiency, flexibility and long-term competitiveness.

This year’s survey gathered insights from 473 automotive industry decision-makers representing vehicle manufacturers and suppliers across the value chain worldwide. The full results are available here.