- iRobot filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy
- Roomba owners shouldn't experience any immediate disruption.
- New owner, Picea Robotics, takes over
We knew iRobot was in troubleand the manufacturer of smart vacuum cleaners officially declared bankruptcy. However, operations will continue under the leadership of Chinese manufacturer Picea Robotics, a company that previously produced Roombas for iRobot.
According to BBCFiling for Chapter 11 bankruptcy was necessary in the face of increasing competition and high tariffs placed on devices imported into the United States. Currently, most iRobot smart vacuum cleaners are shipped to the US from Vietnam.
As for what this could mean for your Roomba, iRobot says There should be no immediate changes to product support, supply chain manufacturing, or mobile applications that accompany smart home equipment. At least for a while, you can continue to use your smart vacuum cleaner at home.
iRobot began its defense and space technology business in 1990 and released its first vacuum cleaner, the Roomba, in 2002. After a surge in demand caused by the pandemic, the company was valued at $3.56 billion in 2021, but that valuation has now dropped to about $140 million.
What do we know about Picea Robotics
Picea Robotics is headquartered in Shenzhen in southern China. The company is no stranger to the smart home space: not only has it previously produced devices for iRobot, but it also has partnerships with Shark And Anchor (which has a smart home brand called Eufy).
Picea Robotics, also known as 3irobotix, has also previously released its own line of smart vacuum cleaners, and has also shown interest in other types of technology, including robotic equipment. Edge reports.
The new owners of the iRobot brand are, of course, not newbies: in general, Picea Group has existed since 2016, and currently working more than 600 R&D employees and 5,000 production employees. He should know what he's doing, but at this early stage it's hard to predict exactly what he'll do with iRobot.
iRobot says the move will lead to “long-term growth and innovation” and that the brand will emerge stronger from the bankruptcy process. It will also become a private company again, owned by Picea Robotics.
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