Charged EVs | EV manufacturers say production is getting easier, cheaper and more predictable in ABB Robotics survey

Automotive manufacturers are showing more confidence in EV production as it shifts from a disruptive new process to a more established manufacturing discipline, according to ABB Robotics’ latest Automotive Manufacturing Outlook Survey.

ABB says more than two-thirds of manufacturers expect EV production to increase in 2026 versus 2025. Just as notable, 51% of respondents said EVs and their key components are now easier to manufacture than they were a year ago, while only 8% said they have become harder to build. The survey also found that 41% of respondents saw EV manufacturing costs fall over the past 12 months, while 39% said costs were stable.

The results suggest that EV assembly is becoming faster, more stable and less disruptive as manufacturers gain experience and invest in automation. ABB is, unsurprisingly, leaning into that angle. “Key indicators such as manufacturing time, cost and integration show that EV production is increasingly becoming a known quantity,” said Joerg Reger, Managing Director of ABB Robotics Automotive Business Line.

Download the survey results here.

The survey also found that manufacturers expect hybrid powertrain production to grow even faster than EV production in the near term, suggesting many OEMs still see hybrids as a practical bridge technology. ABB said the findings were based on responses from 473 automotive decision-makers from vehicle manufacturers and suppliers worldwide.

Source: ABB Robotics