iRobot, the Massachusetts‑based company best known for its Roomba robotic vacuum cleaners, has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection as part of a court‑supervised restructuring that will take the company private under the ownership of its largest contract manufacturer, Shenzhen Picea Robotics Co., Ltd. and Santrum Hong Kong Co. Ltd.
After more than three decades as a pioneer in consumer robotics, iRobot has struggled with mounting financial pressures, intensified competition from lower‑cost rivals, supply chain challenges, and a sharp decline in market share.
The company’s previously announced acquisition by Amazon in 2022 was abandoned due to regulatory hurdles, leaving iRobot on shaky financial footing and precipitating layoffs and cost‑cutting measures.
Under the restructuring plan, Picea will acquire 100% of iRobot’s equity, effectively taking the company private and removing it from the Nasdaq stock exchange. iRobot has stated that the process is expected to conclude by February 2026 and that there should be no anticipated disruption to customer support, app functionality, or global partner relationships during the transition.
The move marks a dramatic turn for a company that once led the robotic vacuum market and now seeks to reinvent itself under new ownership while maintaining its product ecosystem.
