Fanuc and Yaskawa move some production from China to the US on AI-linked demand
Fanuc is putting $90 million into a new plant and logistics centre in Michigan, Nikkei Asia reports
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Fanuc and Yaskawa, the Japanese robot makers, are shifting some production out of China and into the United States, citing demand tied to artificial intelligence, Nikkei Asia reported.
Fanuc is investing $90 million in a new plant and logistics centre in Michigan, according to Nikkei Asia. The two companies are still weighing how much more manufacturing to move, and supply chain concerns remain part of that decision, the outlet reported.
Fanuc has built out its US manufacturing base over decades. It produced 500,000 robots between entering the US market in 1982 and 2017, a total that doubled to 1 million by 2023, Manufacturing Dive reported. In May 2026, the company partnered with Google Cloud to add the Gemini Enterprise platform and Intrinsic robotics software to its machines, Manufacturing Dive reported.
Neither Fanuc nor Yaskawa sits in the benchmark indices that track large Chinese equities, which are led by internet, financial and consumer names rather than industrial exporters. The relocation fits a broader pattern of multinationals diversifying supply chains away from China, a gradual structural shift rather than a sudden shock. With the move still partly under consideration and playing out over years, the earnings impact on large-cap Chinese stocks is negligible for now.