Minth Group has opened a €20 million robot production facility in Šabac, adding robotics to its existing automotive manufacturing operations in Serbia and marking a move toward higher-value Chinese investment in the country. Opened on 29 August 2026, the plant initially employs around 30 people, with staffing expected to rise to 200–250 as production expands. It will manufacture humanoid and quadruped robots, with most output intended for export.
Robotics expands Minth’s Serbian footprint
Minth already operates automotive manufacturing facilities in Šabac and Loznica, providing an established industrial base for the new robotics operation. The project could connect with Serbia’s existing automotive supplier network, including companies producing metal components, cable systems, plastics and electronics. The extent to which those capabilities become part of the robotics supply chain will determine how much production value is generated domestically.
Serbian officials are positioning the investment within a broader effort to attract foreign investment in robotics, artificial intelligence, advanced electronics and automation, alongside the country’s established manufacturing base.
Proposed Inđija complex would scale production
Serbia has also outlined plans for a €200 million robotics industrial park in Inđija. The proposed complex could eventually produce up to 20,000 humanoid robots and robotic dogs annually, although these remain planned capacities. At that scale, the project could create opportunities for Serbian suppliers in precision engineering, electronics, batteries, machine vision and industrial software. Serbia’s automotive industry, engineering universities, software sector and growing pool of automation specialists provide existing capabilities that could support such development.
Software and engineering are particularly relevant to humanoid robotics, which requires systems for perception, navigation, motion control, machine vision, data processing and artificial intelligence.
Labour costs increase automation pressure
The investment comes as Serbia faces tighter labour-market conditions and rising wages. Manufacturers are increasingly under pressure to improve productivity through automation rather than relying primarily on additional hiring. For much of the past decade, Serbia attracted manufacturing investment through relatively low labour costs, state incentives, industrial land and access to European markets. Wage growth and demographic pressures are increasing the importance of more capital-intensive production.
Robotics could also find domestic customers as manufacturers, logistics companies and warehouses seek to increase output without proportionally expanding their workforce. Minth’s existing automotive operations could provide an environment for testing such applications.
Chinese investment moves toward advanced manufacturing
The Šabac project also reflects a broader change in the composition of Chinese investment in Serbia. Earlier projects were concentrated heavily in infrastructure, mining, steel and automotive components, while more recent investment has expanded into renewable energy, battery technology and advanced manufacturing.
For Serbia, the shift creates opportunities to attract technology-intensive production while maintaining commercial ties with China. Closer integration with the European Union also makes issues such as product certification, state aid, rules of origin, cybersecurity and supply-chain transparency increasingly relevant to companies using Serbia as an export base. The initial €20 million investment remains modest compared with Serbia’s largest industrial projects. Its longer-term impact will depend on production volumes, export orders, employment growth, progress on the proposed Inđija park and the share of components, software and engineering sourced locally.
