Industrial Tugger Market Report 2026

The industrial tugger market size has grown strongly in recent years. It will grow from $1.48 billion in 2025 to $1.59 billion in 2026 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.7%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to expansion of manufacturing automation, growth of warehouse and distribution centers, demand for internal logistics efficiency, reduction of manual material movement, availability of electric tugger platforms.

The industrial tugger market size is expected to see strong growth in the next few years. It will grow to $2.12 billion in 2030 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.4%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to increasing adoption of autonomous material transport, rising focus on emission-free factories, expansion of smart factories, growth in airport and logistics infrastructure, integration with fleet management systems. Major trends in the forecast period include expansion of electric and battery-powered tuggers, growing adoption of autonomous tugger systems, rising use in lean manufacturing operations, increasing demand for high-capacity internal logistics, integration with smart warehouse systems.

The growing expansion of e-commerce is expected to drive growth in the industrial tugger market going forward. E-commerce involves buying and selling goods and services where orders are placed or negotiated via internet-based systems such as websites, mobile applications, or electronic data interchange, with payment completed online or offline. Expansion of e-commerce is driven by tightening customer expectations for same-day and next-day delivery, which increases online purchases and demands faster, higher-volume fulfillment operations. Industrial tuggers support e-commerce growth by towing cart trains and palletized loads across large warehouses, streamlining batch picking, feeding packing lines, reducing forklift congestion, and increasing order throughput and labor productivity. For example, in August 2025, the US Census Bureau reported that retail e-commerce sales accounted for 17.1% of total sales in the fourth quarter of 2023, up 19.5% from the third quarter, highlighting ongoing channel expansion. This trend is thus supporting growth in the industrial tugger market.

Key companies in the industrial tugger market are focusing on advancements in automation, such as integrating humanoid-inspired manipulators on tugger platforms, to gain a competitive edge. These manipulators enable automated handling, loading, and unloading of materials with human-like dexterity, improving efficiency and safety in industrial logistics. For instance, in July 2025, Ati Motors, a US-based robotics company, launched its Sherpa Mecha, also known as the Sherpa 10K solution. This product combines a tugger base with a dual-arm, humanoid-inspired manipulator, allowing it to transport loads and perform tasks such as machine tending, bin handling, and tool changes. It features modular artificial intelligence (AI) learning, precision gripping through high-performance actuators, and a full-extension payload capacity. This innovation raises expectations for multitasking capabilities in tuggers while introducing increased system complexity, integration challenges, and cost considerations.

In September 2025, Norea Capital, a Canada-based private equity firm, acquired a majority stake in Motrec International. Through this acquisition, Norea Capital aims to accelerate Motrec’s growth and expand its global presence, particularly in South America and the Middle East, via strategic investments, potential add-on acquisitions, and leadership reinforcement. Motrec International is a Canada-based designer and manufacturer of industrial electric vehicles, including tow tractors (industrial tuggers) used by major international clients.

Major companies operating in the industrial tugger market are Linde Material Handling, Komatsu Ltd., Anhui Heli Co. Ltd., Hangcha Group Co. Ltd., Murata Machinery, Jungheinrich AG, Crown Equipment Corporation, Hyster-Yale, Daifuku, Goldhofer, Vestil Manufacturing, EasyMile, Seegrid, Multiway Robotics, Zowell, MasterMover Inc., Kivnon, Zallys Srl, PACK MULE, Mototok.

North America was the largest region in the industrial tugger market in 2025. Asia-Pacific is expected to be the fastest-growing region in the forecast period. The regions covered in the industrial tugger market report are Asia-Pacific, South East Asia, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East, Africa. The countries covered in the industrial tugger market report are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Taiwan, Russia, South Korea, UK, USA, Canada, Italy, Spain.

The industrial tugger market consists of sales of manual tuggers, electric tuggers, tow tractors, indoor tugger trains, outdoor tugger trains, and industrial tugger carts. Values in this market are ‘factory gate’ values, that is, the value of goods sold by the manufacturers or creators of the goods, whether to other entities (including downstream manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors, and retailers) or directly to end customers. The value of goods in this market includes related services sold by the creators of the goods.

The market value is defined as the revenues that enterprises gain from the sale of goods and/or services within the specified market and geography through sales, grants, or donations in terms of the currency (in USD unless otherwise specified).

The revenues for a specified geography are consumption values that are revenues generated by organizations in the specified geography within the market, irrespective of where they are produced. It does not include revenues from resales along the supply chain, either further along the supply chain or as part of other products.

This product will be delivered within 1-3 business days.