欠中国代工厂超25亿元 扫地机器人鼻祖iRobot爆雷

Core Viewpoint - iRobot, once a leader in the robotic vacuum industry, is facing a severe financial crisis, with debts exceeding $350 million and cash reserves dwindling to $24.8 million, putting the company on the brink of technical bankruptcy [1] Financial Situation - As of November 24, iRobot owes over $350 million (approximately 2.5 billion RMB) to its Chinese manufacturing partner, Shanjun Robotics, while its cash reserves are only $24.8 million [1] - The company reported a 24% year-over-year revenue decline in 2022, totaling $1.183 billion, with a net loss of $286.3 million [1] - By September of this year, iRobot's total assets were $481 million, total liabilities were $508 million, and shareholders' equity was negative $26.8 million, officially marking the company as insolvent [4] Market Position - iRobot's global market share has plummeted to 7.9% this year due to increased competition and a rigid pricing strategy [4] - The company was once a dominant player, holding over 80% of the U.S. robotic vacuum market but has since lost significant ground [1] Corporate Actions - Following the failed acquisition by Amazon, which was initially valued at $1.7 billion and later reduced to $1.4 billion, iRobot laid off 350 employees (31% of its workforce) and saw its CEO resign, further deteriorating its financial condition [2][3] - iRobot is currently in negotiations with Shanjun for a debt resolution, which is seen as the company's only potential survival strategy, albeit at the cost of losing control to a Chinese entity [4] Industry Trends - The global robotic vacuum market saw a shipment of 17.424 million units in the first three quarters of 2025, reflecting an 18.7% year-over-year growth, with the third quarter alone showing a 22.9% increase [5] - Chinese manufacturers dominate the global shipment rankings, with companies like Roborock and Ecovacs leading the market [8] - In the domestic market, China experienced a shipment of 4.63 million robotic vacuums in the first three quarters of 2025, marking a significant 27.2% year-over-year increase [10]