EV Manufacturing Gains Pace as Confidence Rises in 2026
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 manufacturing becomes more established and predictable, manufacturers are improving EV production efficiency and expanding output.
“This year’s survey presents a more positive picture of EV manufacturing than we have seen in previous years,” said Joerg Reger, Managing Director of ABB Robotics Automotive Business Line. “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, which ABB Robotics conducted in partnership with Automotive Manufacturing Solutions, shows that manufacturers in every major region expect EV output to rise in 2026 compared with 2025. This trend signals a continued commitment to electrification in automotive manufacturing, despite uneven consumer demand in some markets.
Manufacturers have also gained confidence in the practical delivery of EV programmes. Fifty-one per cent of respondents say EVs and their key components are now easier to manufacture than they were a year ago. Only eight per cent say they have become harder to build. These results show that EV assembly processes are becoming faster, more stable and less disruptive as manufacturers gain experience and strengthen automation.
Cost trends support this view. More than four in ten respondents (41%) say EV manufacturing costs have fallen over the past 12 months. A further 39% say costs have stayed stable. Only 21% report higher costs. These figures indicate that efficiency will improve as EV platforms and supply chains mature.
However, the survey also shows that manufacturers are taking a measured, demand-led approach to powertrain strategy. While EV production is set to keep rising, respondents expect even stronger growth in hybrid powertrain manufacturing over the same period. This pattern suggests that many producers see hybrid technologies as an important step. They use them to balance electrification goals with real-world customer demand and operational flexibility.
“Manufacturers are no longer asking whether they can build EVs – they are focused on how to build them efficiently, profitably and alongside other powertrains,” added Reger. “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 show an industry that is steadily turning ambition into operational confidence. Companies are strengthening efficiency, flexibility and long-term competitiveness through automation-led manufacturing strategies.
This year’s survey gathered insights from 473 automotive industry decision-makers from vehicle manufacturers and suppliers across the global value chain. Readers can find the full results at www.abb.com/global/en/areas/robotics/industries/automotive/manufacturing-outlook-survey