AGV Report 2025: Key Data & Innovations

The 2025 Automated Guided Vehicle (AGV) Report highlights how automation, robotics, and evolving mobility infrastructure are shaping the future of autonomous goods movement. From the rapid growth of cloud robotics and autonomous navigation systems to the expanding adoption of collaborative robotics, these segments are redefining operational models across warehousing, manufacturing, and intralogistics.

This AGV technology outlook offers a detailed view of the market’s current dynamics, projected growth, key innovation clusters, and emerging players – providing strategic insights for industry stakeholders, investors, and decision-makers.

Executive Summary: Automated Guided Vehicle (AGV) Market Outlook 2025

• Industry Growth Overview: The AGV market size is anticipated to reach around USD 12.99 billion by 2034, expanding at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9.44% over the forecast period 2024 to 2034. On a granular level, the AGV market has experienced a growth rate of 4.32% over the past year, as per the Discovery Platform’s latest data.
• Manpower & Employment Growth: The AGV market employs over 371K individuals globally, with an increase of 15K+ new jobs added in the last year.
• Patents & Grants: The AGV market features over 21400 patents and 600 grants. The patent growth rate is 11.9% yearly, with China and the US leading in patent issuance.
• Global Footprint: Key hubs for AGV include the US, China, Germany, India, and Italy, showcasing a diverse global infrastructure supporting market growth. Major city hubs encompass Singapore, Shenzhen, Pune, Hangzhou, and Bangalore.
• Investment Landscape: The average investment value per funding round exceeds USD 26 million, with over 1500 funding rounds closed. More than 1K investors are actively engaged in the AGV market.
• Top Investors: Major investors include Emma Capital, European Investment Bank, Shopify, Rotor Acquisition, DCVC, and more are collectively investing over USD 2.84 billion across numerous companies.
• Startup Ecosystem: Five innovative startups, Vrutti Technologies (modular software stack for AGV control), GI Land (forklift AGV solutions), SCANLOX (AGV robots for logistics), PWS (automated guided vehicle solutions), and Multipowr (wireless charging solution for electric industrial vehicles) showcase the market’s global reach and entrepreneurial spirit.

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Methodology: How We Created This AGV Report

This report is based on proprietary data from our AI-powered StartUs Insights Discovery Platform, which tracks 7 million global companies, 20K+ technologies and trends, as well as 150M patents, news articles, and market reports. This data includes detailed firmographic insights into approximately 7 million startups, scaleups, and tech companies. Leveraging this exhaustive database, we provide actionable insights for startup scouting, trend discovery, and technology landscaping.

For this report, we focused on the evolution of automated guided vehicles over the past 5 years, utilizing our platform’s trend intelligence feature. Key data points analyzed include:

• Total Companies working in the sector
• News Coverage and Annual Growth
• Market Maturity and Patents
• Global Search Volume & Growth
• Funding Activity and Top Countries
• Subtrends within automated guided vehicles

Our data is refreshed regularly, enabling trend comparisons for deeper insights into their relative impact and importance.

Additionally, we reviewed trusted external resources to supplement our findings with broader market data and predictions, ensuring a reliable and comprehensive overview of the automated guided vehicles market.

What Data is Used to Create This AGV Market Report?

Based on data provided by the StartUs Insights Discovery Platform, we observe that the AGV market stands out in the following categories relative to the 20K+ technologies and trends we track.

These categories provide a comprehensive overview of the market’s key metrics and inform the future direction of the market.

• News Coverage & Publications: The AGV market has been featured in over 490 publications in the last year, which showcase major media attention.
• Funding Rounds: More than 1500 funding rounds have been recorded in our database for this sector.
• Manpower: The global workforce in AGV exceeds 371K, with an additional 15K+ employees added in the past year alone.
• Patents: The AGV market has more than 21 400 patents.
• Grants: Over 600 grants have been awarded to companies within the AGV market.
• Yearly Global Search Growth: The AGV market has experienced a yearly global search growth of 531.59%.

Explore the Data-driven AGV Report for 2025

According to Precedence Research, the AGV market size is anticipated to reach around USD 12.99 billion by 2034, expanding at a CAGR of 9.44% over the forecast period from 2024 to 2034.

Credit: Precedence Research

The AGV market report 2025 uses data from the Discovery Platform and encapsulates the key metrics that underlie the sector’s dynamic growth and innovation. Our database features 150 startups and over 2200 companies, which reflect the market’s vast scope despite an annual growth of 4.32%. It also highlights over 21 400 patents and 600 grants.

Moreover, the global automated guided vehicle market size is expected to reach USD 9.18 billion by 2030, registering a CAGR of 9.2% from 2025 to 2030, according to a new report by Grand View Research.

Credit: Grand View Research

Additionally, with a global workforce exceeding 371K and 15K new employees added last year, the AGV market’s talent pool remains robust. Major hubs include the US, China, Germany, India, and Italy, while cities like Singapore, Shenzhen, Pune, Hangzhou, and Bangalore stand out as vibrant epicenters of AGV activity.

A Snapshot of the Global AGV Market

Over the past year, the AGV market has steadily evolved at a 4.32% annual growth rate, driven by early-stage innovation and patent activity.

With over 150 startups, most in early stages and more than 140 M&A deals, the landscape reflects both dynamism and consolidation. Patent filings exceed 21 400 globally, with over 7770 applicants, although yearly growth in filings remains modest at 0.119%.

Further, China and the USA lead the AGV innovation front, issuing more than 8360 and 5680 patents, respectively.

Explore the Funding Landscape of the Automated Guided Vehicle (AGV) Market

With over 1000 investors backing more than 380 companies across 1500+ funding rounds, the AGV sector demonstrates strong financial momentum. The average investment exceeds USD 26 million per round, signaling a clear appetite for scalable automation solutions. This surge in capital aligns with a broader ecosystem of 150+ early-stage startups and increasing merger and acquisition (M&A) activities. As funding improves and global patent activity surpasses 21 400 filings, the AGV space is positioned for steady, innovation-led growth.

Who is Investing in the AGV Market?

The combined investment value of the top investors in the AGV market exceeds USD 2.84 billion. Here is a breakdown of their contributions:

• Emma Capital has committed USD 678.1 million to at least 1 company.
• European Investment Bank has supported 3 companies with USD 566.6 million.
• Shopify has backed at least 1 company with USD 450 million. Shopify announced a strategic partnership with Astound Digital to improve outcomes for retail brands.
• Rotor Acquisition has invested USD 276 million in at least 1 company.
• DCVC has committed USD 179.2 million to at least 1 company.
• BDC Capital has supported at least 1 company with USD 140 million.
• Porsche has backed 2 companies with a total of USD 139.5 million. Porsche invested EUR 60 million in battery manufacturer Varta as part of a restructuring deal.
• BeyondNetZero has committed USD 139.5 million to at least 1 company.
• General Atlantic has invested USD 139.5 million in at least 1 company.
• Just Climate has supported at least 1 company with USD 139.5 million.

Top Automated Guided Vehicle Innovations & Trends

Discover the emerging trends in the AGV market along with their firmographic details:

• Collaborative Robotics leads AGV-related innovation with over 2400 identified companies employing 115K people globally. More than 8K new roles were created, highlighting rapid workforce expansion in the previous year. With an annual growth rate of 21.23%, this segment is improving human-machine interaction in logistics and manufacturing by enabling safer, more adaptive AGV deployments.
• Autonomous Navigation underpins AGV functionality, supported by over 400 active companies employing 24k people. More than 2K new hires in the last year reflect growing technical demand, while a 17.27% growth rate points to sustained momentum in algorithmic path planning, obstacle avoidance, and localization technologies critical for fleet scalability.
• Cloud Robotics is gaining ground with 130+ companies and 9K+ employees, including 830+ new hires in the past year. Despite its smaller base, the segment shows a solid 17.15% annual growth rate, driven by the need for real-time remote control, data sharing, and AI-enhanced decision-making in AGV operations. This trend reflects a shift toward centralized, adaptive, and scalable AGV fleet management.

5 Top Examples from 150+ Innovative AGV Startups

The five innovative startups showcased below were picked based on data, including the trend they operate within and their relevance, founding year, funding status, and more. Book a demo to find promising startups, emerging trends, or industry data specific to your company’s needs and objectives.

Vrutti Technologies deploys a Modular Software Stack for AGV Control

​Indian startup Vrutti Technologies develops a modular, hardware-independent software stack for AGVs. It facilitates rapid development and customization of automation solutions.

The startup’s software stack employs natural feature navigation, also known as simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM), to guide AGVs. It leverages laser scanners and sensor fusion from devices such as 2D/3D LiDAR, IMU, GPS, and cameras to map environments with positioning accuracy up to ±10mm. SLAM eliminates the need for reflectors and supports both indoor and outdoor operations.

Additionally, the software accommodates various navigation methods, including QR code and line navigation. It also integrates a fleet control system that manages up to 500 vehicles with functionalities such as vehicle scheduling, traffic control, and charging management.

Further, the software streamlines integration with warehouse management systems (WMS) and manufacturing execution systems (MES) through REST APIs and standard industrial protocols like CANOpen and EtherCAT.

GI Land manufactures Forklift AGV Solutions

German startup GI Land offers AGV storage solutions to optimize warehouse operations in facilities with low clear heights and simple piece-picking processes.

Its AGVs transport goods along predefined paths and integrate them with centralized control systems that coordinate tasks across warehouse assets.

Additionally, the startup offers rack-moving robots that mobilize modular storage units and forklift AGVs that handle pallet transport and truck loading. It also provides shuttle systems for moving goods within high-density racking and stacker cranes for accessing vertical storage.

Further, GI Land delivers a warehouse management system with real-time inventory tracking, FIFO enforcement, barcode labeling, and data interfaces, with a focus on garment manufacturing needs.

It also implements a central control system to manage multi-equipment workflows and a 3D panoramic monitoring system to provide real-time operational visibility.

SCANLOX offers AGV Robots for Logistics

Danish startup SCANLOX provides AGVs under the WEWO product line to streamline internal logistics in industrial environments. These AGVs utilize natural feature navigation to eliminate reflectors. Moreover, the AGVs operate through a fleet management system that coordinates multiple vehicles within shared spaces.

The product range includes models such as the pallet mover, pallet mover stacker, monofork, and counterbalance, each designed to handle loads with varying lifting heights. These models have 360-degree safety scanners to ensure secure operation.

Moreover, the fleet management software integrates with enterprise systems like manufacturing execution systems (MES) and enterprise resource planning (ERP). This facilitates efficient task assignment, traffic control, and real-time monitoring.

PWS builds Automated Guided Vehicle Solutions

Taiwanese startup PWS develops AGVs to increase material handling efficiency in various industrial and commercial environments.

Its eDolly series utilizes intelligent tracing cameras and line-following technology to navigate workspaces autonomously. The vehicles feature real-time status displays, swappable batteries, and multiple safety mechanisms to ensure continuous and secure operation.

Additionally, the HDolly series expands functionality by integrating disinfection capabilities. HDolly I employs UV-C light for surface sterilization, while HDolly II uses potassium-ion spray systems for large-area sanitation. HDolly I and HDolly II operate autonomously.

Multipowr provides a Wireless Charging Solution

Belgian startup Multipowr offers Buzzard, a wireless inductive charging solution. It increases the operational efficiency of industrial electric vehicles, including AGVs, AMRs, and warehouse shuttles.

Buzzard employs contactless charging pads that vehicles align with by parking above or beside them, This facilitates automatic energy transfer without manual intervention or battery swaps. Available in models like Buzzard40 (1.5–5.6 kW), Buzzard80 (5.5–11 kW), and Buzzard120 (8.5–17 kW), the series supports charging currents up to 240 A.

The Buzzard series features a fully enclosed design that resists dust, water, and temperature extremes. Its compatibility with all battery types and flexible mounting options – floor or wall – improves integration with diverse environments.

Gain Comprehensive Insights into AGV Trends, Startups, and Technologies

In 2025, cross-industry automation, growing warehouse digitalization, and rising labor shortages in logistics and manufacturing will drive innovation in the AGV market. The convergence of edge computing, wireless charging, and real-time fleet orchestration is setting the stage for next-generation AGVs. As industries seek scalable automation, AGVs will play a central role in reshaping material handling across sectors.

Get in touch to explore 150+ startups and scaleups, as well as all market trends impacting 2200 AGV companies.