China's AGV sales rose rapidly from 2018, reaching approximately 5,000 units in 2020, exceeding 10,000 units in 2022, and reaching 24,500 units in 2024. In the first half of 2025, AGV sales increased by 266.7% year-on-year. In terms of market size, the Chinese AGV industry exceeded 4 billion yuan in 2023, and preliminary statistics indicate a market size of around 5 billion yuan in 2024. The penetration rate of AGVs in traditional forklifts remains low, at approximately 1.91% (or 1.66%) in 2024.
Global AGV sales reached approximately 30,700 units in 2023, with China becoming the largest market, increasing its share of global sales from 47% in 2019 to 64% in 2023. The number of companies deploying unmanned forklifts has exceeded 100, including traditional forklift manufacturers such as Hangcha Group and Anhui Heli, as well as emerging robot manufacturers like Future Robot and Hikrobot. The investment payback period for unmanned forklifts is typically around 2-3 years.