The number of robots installed by the French car industry rose 22 percent to 1,400 units – compared with 700 units in the UK(+ 7 percent). The automotive sector is one of the main driving forces modernizing the French economy: with a robot density of 940 units per 10,000 workers, France currently ranks 2nd within the European Union - the UK ranks 10th with 606 units. These are the latest results of the World Robotics Report 2016 published by the International Federation of Robotics (IFR).

法國汽車行業采用的機器人數量增長了22％，達1400臺，而英國的機器數量則為700臺（增長7％）。汽車行業是法國經濟現代化的主要推動力之一：機器人密度為每萬名員工940臺，法國目前在歐盟排名第2，英國排名第10位，機器人密度為606臺。這是國際機器人聯合會（IFR）發布的“2016年世界機器人報告”的最新數據。

French investments in machinery accelerate
法國對機械的投資加速

In France, investment in machinery and equipment are accelerating at a faster pace than the overall economy. The frontrunners here are the dynamic showcase industries, such as automotive: annual robot sales to the automotive industry as a whole increased by an average of 7 percent per year between 2010 and 2015. During the same period, the motor vehicle sector ordered on average 6 percent more robots per year and the demand from automotive parts suppliers increased by 9 percent. Since 2010, governmental initiatives to strengthen production in France have resulted in significant investments by the automotive industry. The two French automotive suppliers, PSA and Renault, will further invest in new car models, energy efficient cars, common platforms and also modernize their factories. Both companies have already successfully restructured to insure their position for increased productivity to meet the demand. Automotive parts suppliers will benefit from investments by the automotive industry in France as well as from the improving car market in Europe.

在法國，機械設備投資增長速度高于整體經濟增長，其中的引領者是諸如汽車等活力行業：2010年至2015年，整個汽車行業年度機器人銷售額平均每年增長7％。同期，機動車部門每年訂購機器人的平均增加6％，而汽車零部件供應商的需求增長了9％。自2010年以來，政府加強法國生產的舉措引發了汽車行業的大量投資。兩家法國汽車供應商標致雪鐵龍集團和雷諾將進一步投資新車型、節能汽車、通用平臺，并升級改造其工廠。兩家公司均已經成功重組，確保其提高生產力以滿足需求。汽車零部件供應商將受益于法國汽車行業的投資以及歐洲汽車市場的改善。

Automotive companies face up to Brexit
汽車公司面臨英國退歐影響

It is not unfair to assume that the decision to leave the EU will influence investment decisions by foreign car companies on production sites in the UK. For example, Japanese auto makers such as Toyota, Nissan and Honda export more than three quarters of their vehicles built in Britain, and most of these exports go to other European countries. Were they to have to pay duty on the shipments of goods, they might decide to move out of the UK. We assume, however, that the UK government will develop regulations and supporting measures to avoid this. In any case, there are currently frequent announcements on investment plans concerning capacity expansions and modernization by foreign and local automotive companies. Investments in the general industry sector should also gain momentum. The development of robot installations in the next few years depends on the question “if and when” these planned projects will actually be implemented in the country. This said, it can be assumed that investments planned by domestic manufacturers will most likely go ahead and that and that modernization, as well as a strengthening of their overall competitiveness, will continue unabated.

退出歐盟的決定將影響外國汽車公司在英國投資生產基地決定的假設，有失公平。例如，如豐田、日產和本田等日本汽車制造商在英國生產的汽車有四分之三以上是出口的，其中大部分出口到其他歐洲國家。如果他們必須為貨物運輸繳稅，他們可能會決定搬離英國。但是，我們認為，英國政府將制定法規和配套措施來避免這種情況。無論如何，目前外資和本地汽車企業的擴容和現代化投資計劃目前正頻頻公布。對一般行業的投資也應該有所增長。未來幾年機器人采用的發展取決于這些計劃在英國“是否及何時”實際實施的問題。這就是說，可以認為英國國內廠商計劃的投資很可能會繼續下去，現代化升級以及整體競爭力的提升將會有所增加。

Robots support competitiveness and employment in Europe
機器人提升歐洲競爭力和就業

“The positive impact of robots on European competitiveness and employment can be seen in Germany,” said Joe Gemma, President of the International Federation of Robotics. “The country´s automotive sector, for instance, holds the top position for robot density in Europe - with about 1,150 industrial robots per 10,000 employees. As a result of the ongoing trend to automate production, employment in the German car industry rose by about 93,000 jobs to 813,000 during the period 2010 to 2015.” In France, modernization and digitalization of production systems is increasingly likely to involve small and medium enterprises over the coming years. The country´s main strength lies in industrial software and networking objects which could positively impact the implementation of new production concepts and create scope for employing innovative machinery and equipment and likely create new opportunities for skilled labor.

國際機器人聯合會主席Joe Gemma說：“機器人對歐洲競爭力和就業的積極影響可以在德國看到。例如，該國的汽車行業機器人密度在歐洲排首位，每萬名員工擁有約1150個工業機器人。由于持續的自動化生產趨勢，2010至2015年期間，德國汽車工業的就業人數增加了約9.3萬人，達81.3萬。”在法國，未來幾年生產系統的現代化和數字化越來越有可能涉及中小企業。法國的主要優勢在于工業軟件和網絡，這對新生產理念的實施有積極影響，為使用創新機器和設備創造良機，也為熟練工人帶來新的機會。