<div id="readability-page-1"><div><p>I DON’T know what kind of 2025 you’ve had, but China’s year has been triumphant – just look at the Roomba, the little American robot vacuum cleaner that will soon be American no more.</p><p>Earlier this month, iRobot, the Roomba’s maker, puttered sadly into <u>Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection</u> in a stunning reversal of fortunes for a company that had pioneered an entire product category. As recently as 2021, the firm had been valued at US$3.56 billion.</p><p>Its impending fate must be nightmare fuel for American firms everywhere – as part of the restructuring process, iRobot will be bought over by its primary manufacturer, Shenzhen-based Picea Robotics. The loss-making firm is expected to live on, but under Chinese ownership.</p></div></div>

IRBTQ

IRBT

<p>iRobot, maker of Roomba, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy and will be acquired by Shenzhen-based Picea Robotics. This marks a significant shift as the American company transitions to Chinese ownership, highlighting China's growing influence in the industry.</p>

A clean sweep: How China won the war for your living room floor