Home / Business and Economy / Roomba Maker iRobot Files Bankruptcy, Acquired by Chinese Manufacturer
Roomba Maker iRobot Files Bankruptcy, Acquired by Chinese Manufacturer
15 Dec
Summary
- iRobot has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy and will be acquired by Picea Robotics.
- Picea Robotics will assume iRobot's debt and own the company entirely.
- The acquisition highlights the growing dominance of Chinese manufacturers in robotics.
iRobot, famous for its Roomba robot vacuums, has officially filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. The company is set to be acquired by its primary contract manufacturer, the China-based Picea Robotics. This agreement involves Picea assuming iRobot's outstanding $190 million loan and waiving an additional $161.5 million owed for manufacturing services.
Picea Robotics, also known as 3irobotix, is a significant player in original design manufacturing for robot vacuums, partnering with brands like Shark and Anker. This acquisition follows iRobot's earlier decision in January 2025 to move engineering operations overseas to cut costs after a deal with Amazon collapsed.
While iRobot states it will continue normal operations, the acquisition by Picea raises questions about the future direction of the Roomba brand. The deal further signifies a trend towards consolidation and the growing market power of Chinese-owned companies in the competitive robot vacuum sector.
