Roomba Manufacturer iRobot Could Encounter Collapse Within a Year


**iRobot’s Future Remains in Jeopardy Due to Financial Issues**

iRobot, the firm responsible for the Roomba, is grappling with significant financial difficulties, acknowledging there’s “substantial doubt” regarding its capacity to remain operational. Once a leader in the robotic vacuum sector, the company now finds it hard to uphold its market position.

This bleak forecast was disclosed in iRobot’s **Q4 2024 financial report**, released on Wednesday. The document indicated a **44% revenue decrease** when compared to the same timeframe in 2023. Over the entire year, revenue fell by **23%**, from **$890.6 million in 2023 to $681.8 million in 2024**—a notable downturn for a firm already encountering obstacles.

### Measures to Reduce Costs and a Significant Product Rollout

In an effort to address these financial hardships, iRobot has initiated sweeping changes. Following a **restructuring in January 2024**, the company has **eliminated more than half of its workforce**, slashed marketing costs, lowered inventory levels, and overhauled its **research and development approach** to minimize expenses.

Moreover, iRobot has recently **introduced its 2025 Roomba collection**, which CEO Gary Cohen referred to as the **”largest product launch in iRobot’s history.”** The company is relying on this new collection to turn the tide, although its success is still uncertain.

*”There can be no guarantee that the new product launches will succeed,”* iRobot noted, pointing to factors like **consumer interest, competition, economic factors, and tariff regulations**. With these uncertainties in mind, the company conceded that its capacity to operate beyond the next year is in jeopardy.

### Shares Plummet as Investors Worry

In the wake of its financial report being released, **iRobot’s stock plunged 35% by the end of Wednesday**. The decline persisted on Thursday, as shares dropped **an additional 25%**, lowering the stock price to **$3.06**—less than half its value prior to the report’s publication.

### Consequences of a Failed Amazon Merger

iRobot’s financial woes have been worsened by the **failure of a $1.4 billion acquisition agreement with Amazon** in January 2024. Initially revealed in 2022, the deal was ultimately **canceled due to antitrust objections from the European Union**. At that point, iRobot confirmed that there was **”no path to regulatory approval,”** blocking the merger from progressing.

### Moving Forward

Despite its struggles, iRobot is optimistic that its **new Roomba collection** will enhance revenue and stabilize the organization. However, its financial instability might make potential buyers hesitant to invest in a Roomba, due to concerns about future support or availability of spare parts.

If iRobot is unable to bounce back, the once-renowned brand could vanish, leaving the fate of Roomba in doubt.