Robotic vacuum maker Dreame says untapped global demand to drive next phase of growth

Despite intense competition that has pushed one US company into bankruptcy, the global robotic vacuum cleaner market has plenty of room for growth given low penetration rates, according to Meng Jia, president of Dreame Technology’s robotic vacuum division.

Meng anticipates steady growth for robotic vacuum sales over the next few years, noting that market penetration remains low – less than 10 per cent in China and under 20 per cent overseas.

“The robotic vacuum category hasn’t fully realised its potential in terms of user experience,” said Meng, adding that the product was still in its “ascent stage”.

Do you have questions about the biggest topics and trends from around the world? Get the answers with SCMP Knowledge, our new platform of curated content with explainers, FAQs, analyses and infographics brought to you by our award-winning team.

Europe was Dreame’s largest market for robotic vacuum cleaners, followed by China and the US, according to Meng. Europe’s dominance was driven by a consumer base that is receptive to leading-edge technology, with more than half of Dreame’s revenue in the region generated by premium products priced above 1,000 euros (US$1,174).

Xiaomi’s robot vacuum cleaner has put the company in the top 5 of suppliers. Photo: Handout alt=Xiaomi’s robot vacuum cleaner has put the company in the top 5 of suppliers. Photo: Handout>

“The Chinese market is the most competitive in the world,” said Meng. The 3,000 to 4,000 yuan (US$568) price bracket accounts for roughly 50 per cent of the company’s domestic revenue, in contrast to the premium-heavy European market.

Dreame, which makes a range of household appliances, recorded the fastest growth in new job listings among Chinese companies this year, according to a report by Maimai, China’s largest professional social networking platform. Dreame’s robotic vacuum unit was actively recruiting talent for its research and development department, according to Meng.

Chinese manufacturers consolidated their global lead in the first three quarters of 2025, sweeping the top five spots for smart robotic vacuum shipments. Collectively, these brands – Roborock, Ecovacs, Dreame, Xiaomi and Narwal – now command nearly 70 per cent of the worldwide market, according to research firm IDC.

Dreame’s third spot ranking gave it a 12.4 per cent share of the global market.

The ROMO is DJI’s entry into the robotic cleaner market. Photo: handout alt=The ROMO is DJI’s entry into the robotic cleaner market. Photo: handout>

Facing intense competition from Chinese rivals, US-based iRobot, maker of the famous Roomba brand, filed for bankruptcy protection earlier this month. As part of its restructuring, the firm was set to be acquired by its key supplier, Shenzhen-based manufacturer Picea Robotics.

Meng said Dreame would remain largely unaffected by the iRobot acquisition.

The market’s potential continues to attract new players. In August, drone giant DJI made its debut in the sector with the launch of the ROMO series. Start-up Pudu Robotics also launched the PUDU CC 1 Pro this year.

Meng noted that DJI has been heavily promoting its artificial intelligence capabilities since entering the robotic vacuum sector. “Dreame has also been heavily investing in AI,” he said, adding that DJI’s approach has provided clues to help Dreame’s own AI promotional strategies.

This article originally appeared in the South China Morning Post (SCMP), the most authoritative voice reporting on China and Asia for more than a century. For more SCMP stories, please explore the SCMP app or visit the SCMP’s Facebook and Twitter pages. Copyright © 2025 South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved.

Copyright (c) 2025. South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved.