Research on market demand for robotic solutions and identification of potential market segments in the automotive industry of Kazakhstan

The article is devoted to the study of market demand for robotic solutions in the automotive industry of the Republic of Kazakhstan. The authors examine the role of the automotive sector in the country’s industrialization and identify the main limitations of its technological maturity. Against the backdrop of the global transition to Industry 4.0, special attention is paid to assessing the potential demand for robotization and identifying priority segments for its implementation. The empirical basis of the research is the case of a leading domestic enterprise – LLP "SaryarkaAvtoProm". The methodology includes expert interviews, a large-scale survey (n = 520), and the analysis of statistical and industry data. The analysis shows that welding and painting lines, in-plant logistics, and quality control systems have the greatest potential for robotization. However, the high latent demand is constrained by several factors, such as the high cost of implementation, a shortage of qualified personnel, and insufficient service infrastructure. At the same time, drivers that stimulate the spread of robotization were identified, including the growth of production volumes, the transition to CKD assembly, and state industrial programs. The scientific novelty of the article lies in providing a comprehensive empirical assessment of demand for robotization, taking into account the production specifics of Kazakhstan’s automotive industry and global trends. The practical significance is determined by the possibility of applying the results in investment and educational programs as well as in public policy on industrial digitalization. The authors propose to consider the identified segments as priority areas for the development of strategies aimed at accelerating the digital transformation of Kazakhstan’s automotive industry