Our Service

We monitor Japan news and deliver it to you in various formats, so you can focus on maximising your business values.

Original Article

This will be chosen based on your business interests.

ロボット掃除機「ルンバ」を手掛ける米アイロボットは16日、国内のラインアップを刷新すると発表した。全ての機種に高性能レーダーを搭載し掃除漏れを防ぐ。市場では中国勢が急速に台頭し、アイロボットは業績不振が続く。高いシェアを持ち「牙城」といえる日本市場を起点に復活を目指す。[Cont.]

(16th April 2025, Nihon Keizai Shimbun)

How will it look?

Choose the level of detail and precision that aligns with your business objectives.

iRobot, known for its Roomba robot vacuum cleaners, announced on the 16th that it will revamp its product lineup in Japan. All models will be equipped with high-performance radars to make sure no spot is missed. iRobot has been struggling in Japan amidst the rapid emergence of Chinese manufacturers, and iRobot is aiming to take a ‘road to recovery’, starting with the Japanese market where they hold a high share. [Cont.]
iRobot announced a new product lineup, all with LiDAR sensors, on April 16th. This is to compete with Chinese competitors, who have first penetrated the market with affordable products, then with unique features. iRobot’s financials cast doubt on its existence in the next 12 months, but the company is trying to recover on its own, starting with Japan, where it holds a 70% share of the robot cleaner market. The company also has ambitious sales targets, but its anti-discount policy is also receiving negative feedback from major retailers.
iRobot announced a new product lineup as its Chinese competitors thrive. In 2024, five of the top six companies with the most robot cleaners shipped were Chinese, and iRobot lost its crown for the first time to Roborock. iRobot built its strong brand by being one of the first to introduce room layout recognition technology and a mopping feature, but the lead is slipping as Chinese competitors are introducing newer, more innovative technologies. iRobot’s future remains uncertain, but it still holds 70% of the robot cleaner market share in Japan.
iRobot announced six new Roomba products, all scheduled to go on sale on April 18th. In 2024, iRobot accounted for 13.7% of the robot cleaners shipped worldwide, losing its lead for the first time. Five of the top six manufacturers are Chinese, and iRobot is struggling financially. The company recorded 172.03 million dollars of sales (44% down year-on-year) and a 77.1 million dollar loss in the October-December 2024 period. Amazon’s acquisition attempt in 2022 failed because regulators did not approve it. iRobot currently holds 70% of the Japanese robot cleaner market, and the company aims to increase its market share in vacuums overall from the current 5% to 20% by 2030. It long held a strong brand reputation in Japan, but the introduction of the anti-discount policy is receiving negative feedback from major retailers.