Americans take note, FCC's new 'Chinese robot ban' also includes these vacuum cleaners
The FCC's new ban on foreign-made "advanced robotic devices" covers robot vacuums too, an agency spokesperson confirmed to The Verge. Existing Roombas are safe and approved models can still be sold, but future imports face restrictions. With Roborock, Ecovacs, Dreame, Xiaomi and Narwal all Chinese-owned, and Roomba now under Chinese ownership after iRobot's bankruptcy, the US robot vacuum market faces disruption. Robot lawnmowers and delivery bots are also affected.
The FCC's new ban on foreign-made "advanced robotic devices" covers robot vacuums too, an agency spokesperson confirmed to The Verge. Existing Roombas are safe and approved models can still be sold, but future imports face restrictions. With Roborock, Ecovacs, Dreame, Xiaomi and Narwal all Chinese-owned, and Roomba now under Chinese ownership after iRobot's bankruptcy, the US robot vacuum market faces disruption. Robot lawnmowers and delivery bots are also affected.
