Robot manufacturer plans US subsidiary

Chinese domestic robot manufacturer Ecovacs Robotics (Suzhou) Co is planning to open a subsidiary in Los Angeles later this year, as its first foray into the US market.

The company will start by selling window-cleaning robots, given the high competition in the floor cleaning robot market, said Chairman Qian Dongqi.

Ecovacs already sells its products in more than 30 countries and regions, including Germany, France, Spain and Switzerland, and has a subsidiary in Germany.

It recently reported a 30 percent growth in sales at stores in China, and a 150 percent increase in online sales in the first half of this year, Qian said, adding that it now makes two out of every three floor cleaning robots sold in China.

Originally starting as a domestic equipment manufacturer of cleaning appliances for foreign brands, overseas sales account for 76 percent of company sales.

By 2015, self-owned brand robot sales are expected to hit 5 billion yuan ($787 million) a year, he added.

The company unveiled Famibot, a family service robot, and a new series of window cleaning robots on Tuesday.

A Famibot can allow its user to remotely control home appliances, and also sends warnings of smoke or the presence of visitors in their home, via smart phone.

liwenfang@chinadaily.com.cn