16.12.2025 07:15
The manufacturer of the robot vacuum brand Roomba, which is also widely sold in Turkey, iRobot Corp., has filed for bankruptcy. The U.S. company proposed that control be transferred to its China-based main supplier, Picea Robotics, as part of a restructuring process. Founded in 1990 by engineers from MIT, iRobot has sold more than 40 million devices since its establishment, primarily the Roomba.
iRobot Corp., the manufacturer of Roomba, one of the brands that comes to mind when talking about robot vacuums, announced that it has filed for bankruptcy.
The US-based company proposed to transfer control to its China-based main supplier, Picea Robotics, as part of a restructuring process. iRobot, which continues to trade on the stock market as a consumer robotics manufacturer, has faced serious financial difficulties in recent years, particularly due to intense competition from lower-priced Chinese rivals.
STRUGGLING TO MAINTAIN FINANCIAL STRUCTURE
The company struggled to maintain its financial structure while experiencing a loss of sales in the increasingly competitive environment. Gary Cohen, CEO of iRobot, described this step as a critical turning point for the company's future in a statement regarding the bankruptcy filing. Cohen stated that the process aims to ensure iRobot's long-term sustainability, strengthen its financial structure, and maintain operational continuity for consumers and business partners.
MORE THAN 40 MILLION UNITS SOLD
Founded in 1990 by engineers from MIT, iRobot has sold more than 40 million devices, primarily Roomba, since its inception. However, rising costs and intense competitive pressure forced the company to restructure. During this process, the number of employees was reduced, and a management change was made at the beginning of 2024, with one of the co-founders stepping down from the CEO position.
AMAZON'S ACQUISITION ATTEMPT AFFECTED FINANCIAL PROCESS
One of the significant developments affecting iRobot's financial process was Amazon's attempt to acquire the company in 2023. Amazon's plan to buy iRobot for $1.5 billion was canceled due to competition concerns from European Union regulators. The EU did not approve the deal on the grounds that it could reduce the visibility of competing robot vacuum brands on Amazon's platform.
After the cancellation of the acquisition agreement, iRobot received $94 million in compensation from Amazon. However, a large portion of this amount was used for consulting expenses and the repayment of a $200 million loan obtained from Carlyle. Meanwhile, Picea Robotics' subsidiary in Hong Kong had taken over the remaining $191 million debt from Carlyle last month.