Dreame Technology Expands into Drone Market to Challenge DJI

Dreame Technology, best known for its robot vacuum cleaners, is taking a bold step into the drone industry. The Chinese brand is actively recruiting drone professionals in what analysts see as a direct move to compete with DJI, the market leader, according to a report by Sina.

Dreame’s Drone Hiring Drive

Job postings on Boss Zhipin, a major Chinese recruitment platform, show that Dreame is currently advertising at least ten drone-related positions. Roles include drone navigation modeling algorithm engineer, drone test pilot, drone operations sales director, and business director for the pan-aviation industry.

The new hires will be based either at Dreame’s headquarters in Suzhou, Jiangsu province, or in Shenzhen, Guangdong province. Shenzhen is widely considered China’s drone hub, thanks to a deep supply chain network that supports DJI and a growing number of manufacturers and start-ups.

Talent Sourcing from DJI and Meituan

According to Sina, Dreame has already recruited employees from DJI as well as from food delivery giant Meituan. Meituan has been investing in drone-based logistics since 2017 and, by its own reporting, delivered more than 200,000 orders via drones in 2024, nearly double its 2023 volume.

By tapping into DJI’s engineering talent and Meituan’s operational expertise, Dreame appears to be positioning itself to accelerate both the technical development and real-world operational rollout of its drone program.

Rising Competition in China’s Drone Industry

Dreame’s entry highlights intensifying competition in China’s drone industry. While DJI remains the dominant global player, smaller and more agile hardware start-ups are increasingly targeting specialized markets such as logistics, agriculture, and industrial inspection.

Suzhou-based Dreame’s background in robotics and consumer electronics gives it a technological foundation that can potentially transition into aerial robotics. The company’s recruitment strategy suggests it intends to build both the hardware engineering capacity and commercial sales channels required to scale.

Strategic Locations for Development

By anchoring its drone expansion in Shenzhen, Dreame gains proximity to key component suppliers, established drone R&D hubs, and a highly skilled labor pool. Shenzhen’s ecosystem has long provided DJI with a competitive edge, and Dreame is clearly aiming to leverage the same environment to accelerate entry into the sector.

Industry Outlook

For years, DJI has dominated consumer and enterprise drone markets. However, Beijing has increasingly prioritized diversification in high-tech industries, creating space for rising players like Dreame. Whether the company can move beyond its reputation as a household appliance brand into a credible drone manufacturer remains to be seen.

Dreame did not immediately respond to SCMP’s request for comment on its drone venture on Wednesday.

DroneXL’s Take

Dreame’s pivot from robot vacuums to drones underscores the blurring line between consumer robotics and aerial robotics. By hiring DJI veterans and logistics drone experts, the company signals an ambition to enter directly into areas where DJI’s scale has left only narrow gaps for competitors.

A central question is whether Dreame will focus on consumer drones or enterprise applications such as delivery, inspection, or agriculture. Competing with DJI in the consumer market remains a daunting challenge, but leveraging logistics-focused expertise from Meituan could point toward niche applications with high growth potential.

Dreame is not the only new competitor in the global drone industry. Recently, Insta360 announced its Antigravity A1 drone. It will be very interesting to see if these new competitors can do what GoPro, Skydio and Sony weren’t able to do, which is to make a dent into DJI’s hegemony.

If Dreame executes effectively, its entry could further spur innovation and competition in the drone sector—benefiting both industry and end users.

What do you think? Could Dreame emerge as a serious DJI challenger, or will this be another short-lived attempt in a challenging market? Share your perspective in the comments.

Photos courtesy of Dreame Technology and DJI.