China's top drone maker DJI comes down to earth with launch of robotic cleaner
Chinese drone giant DJI is expected to launch a vacuum cleaning robot in a move set to intensify competition in the country's crowded robotic cleaner market, according to a report by the state-backed financial newspaper China Securities Journal, citing internal sources.
Shenzhen-based DJI will introduce a combination vacuum cleaner and mopping robot this month, a project that has been under development over the past four years, according to the report. The product is called DJI ROMO, according to leaked images of the packaging.
DJI did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Monday.
The move by the world's largest drone maker will see it come up against domestic rivals that have already carved up the local and global market for robotic cleaners. Worldwide shipments in the segment reached 20.6 million units last year, an 11.2 per cent year-on-year increase, according to a report released in March by market consultancy IDC.
Chinese firm Roborock ranked as the No 1 supplier with a 16 per cent global share, followed by US-based iRobot with 13.7 per cent, according to IDC. The other names in the top five were Ecovacs Robotics, Xiaomi and Dreame – all from China.
Employees work on the production line of a robot vacuum cleaner factory in Shenzhen, August 9, 2019. Photo: Reuters
Ecovacs, Roborock and Narwal are the top three suppliers in the mainland China market, which grew 6.7 per cent last year.
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