China sanctions US drone maker Skydio

[anotherlab]

On Skydio's blog, CEO Adam Bry announced that Skydio has been sanctioned by China for selling drones to Taiwan. This affects their supply of batteries, which are manufactured in China. Bry said they have supplies on hand and new sources will be available in the Spring. Until their supply change has moved out of China, Skydio is rationing batteries to one per drone.

Clearly not understanding what irony is, Bry posted this:

This is a clarifying moment for the drone industry. If there was ever any doubt, this action makes clear that the Chinese government will use supply chains as a weapon to advance their interests over ours. The drone market has historically been dominated by Chinese companies who are now rapidly losing market share to Skydio and our Western peers. This is an attempt to eliminate the leading American drone company and deepen the world’s dependence on Chinese drone suppliers.

This is more or less a response to the US actions against DJI. Banning products because they came from another country for political reasons tends to have side effects like this.

 

[Cafguy]

"who are now rapidly losing market share to Skydio"
WHAT????????
They must be selling them like Hotcakes. When I go to our Drone clubs meetings Someone new is always showing off their new Skydio Drone.
NOT!

 

[anotherlab]

"who are now rapidly losing market share to Skydio"
WHAT????????
They must be selling them like Hotcakes. When I go to our Drone clubs meetings Someone new is always showing off their new Skydio Drone.
NOT!

That was a press release from Adam Bry, it was written in Marketing English, where the facts are loose and there is a two-drink minimum.

A drone club is probably not an accurate way of seeing how well Skydio drones are selling. They are not selling to consumers or enthusiasts, they are going after the commercial and S&R market.

 

[mavic3usa]

This is what happens when the government becomes too involved in the private sector and no matter what they do, it tends to ultimately destroy the free market over time. I've said it before, the biggest threat to the consumer drone market is excessive government regulations.....I feel like this is one of those "Russia" questions.

 

[Felix le Chat]

That was a press release from Adam Bry, it was written in Marketing English, where the facts are loose and there is a two-drink minimum.

A drone club is probably not an accurate way of seeing how well Skydio drones are selling. They are not selling to consumers or enthusiasts, they are going after the commercial and S&R market.

Don't forget the words "military market"... namely the Skydio X2D and X10D which have been shipped in large numbers into an active war zone... By Skydio.

Adam Bry righteously shouting "FOUL" when there are reams of proof that his lot have been actively lobbying for political sanctions to block their competition (DJI). I think his middle name is 'hypocrite' isn't it?

 

[anotherlab]

The interesting part is that China didn't place tariffs or bans on Skydio products. The sanctions are interfering with Skydio from selling anywhere. Which is not effective in the long run as Skydio will source the batteries from somewhere else.