(MENAFNEditorial) In 2014, the mainland market China UAV enterprises appear. In this year, DJI released the classic ‘Inspire' series till now no other UAV companies are able to compete or imitate. and the global civilian UAV market share expanded to 70%. For the first time, China technology companies rely on high-end and front-end technology products to hit a level that foreign companies can't even reach. That year, millions of aircraft UAVs won tens of millions of dollars in ‘A' round of financing.
Following by 2015 CES appears a large number of China UAV companies and have come up with their "good" products, it's the year of the China UAV companies in the United States. Drones buzzed propeller sound became the main theme of Las Vegas. That summer, the chip giant invest 60 million U. S. dollars in the domestic UAV Company Yuneec which became the UAV industry's largest single financing.
Only after 2 years, it is very difficult to find out positive news of drone from the major technology sector but only plenty of UAVs flying black in social sector.
So, those drones and enterprise founders who had lofty sentiments and aspirations, how are they lately? Today, I would like to pick up a space between those drones familiar name.
Ehang — product or promo?
Compared to DJI and Zerotech who wish to conquer consumer with products, Ehang is such a clear stream in both technology and financing circle.
From the current product releasing, we notice that Ehang never think of product seriously. Since the beginning, they has been completed turned into a financing-oriented marketing company. After obtaining the first capital, they immediately recuited Microsoft Top Management with high salaries. After that, those Top Managers brought their own ‘Elite Teams' in order to start a civil war.
However after all, there is no one can catch Ehang's excellent marketing capabilities. ‘Ehang 184' shined in 2016 CES show and followed by access to the second round of financing.
After the financing, Ehang did not disappoint investors and relyed on 184 project, they succeed to ‘get' Unmanned Air Craft Project in Dubai. Unexpectedly, the project was half-way high-jacked by a German company due to Ehang's finish product failed to meet the requirements of Dubai side.
This year, long vanished Ehang was reported that they have been owning suppliers for the past 19 months. The news was exploded followed by dunning group all over Guangzhou. It seems that Ehang had faced a large number of finance problems without the outstanding products.
I wonder if Ehang could eventually come out something inspiring the investor after 184 project?
Yuneec — Science and Technology Industry or Entertainment Industry?
Compared to Ehang, Yuneec's product is known due to set off by Horizon especially in the United States platform. In 2015, Yuneec received 60 million dollars investment from Intel because of its market share in foreign markets.
In 2016-2017, Yuneec is not really sitting around during the depressed market situation. The author is indeed impressed and amazed by what is happening next. This long story is quite exciting as it is not only a combination role model of UAV, High-Tech Company and even Startups who are seeking funds. Therefore, you will never confused if you read news about ‘Yuneec' in the Entertainment Sector.
And all these problems are pointing to the Founder Couple who filed a divorce in the past year Yu Tian and Wenyan Jiang of Yuneec
The story begins with the luxury car crash in 2015. Yu Tian was heavily drunk driving and arguing with Wenyan Jiang due to investment disputes. Both injured and admitted to hospital after hitting the front luxury car as mistaken the red light. Tian's secret lover and child went to visit him as they were too worry to staying out there in Hong Kong. There is no longer a secret. A traffic accident turned into Soap Oprea.
Of course, we could not only blame on Yu Tian's romance as he can't get rid of the way Wenyan Jiang controls cash flow in the past 20 years. Yu Tian ‘s bank account has been tightly monitored by Wenyan Jiang. After she found out Tian's affair, Wenyan Jiang immediately confiscated his car, yacht and private jet. The boss who is in charge of 2,000 staffs can only take public transportation every single day.
Where there is oppression, there is resistance. Yu Tian was desperate to win the divorce case even mortgaged his property as he was not reconciled at all to loose his ‘Yuneec Empire' to Wenyan Jiang. He would fight for it to the end. On the other side, Wenyan Jiang began to exposure to the major media frequently once discharging from hospital. It is quite unusual for her as she might be taking advice from experts. On top of showing face on lectures, forums, she even accepted various interviews with two sons on television being a success businesswoman and a great mother.
Not surprisingly, Wenyan Jiang eventually won the case. Is it not possible for Yu Tian staying at Yuneec anymore since Wenyan Jiang cut down any production line leaded by Yu Tian. The discussion turned into a rally. A few days later, Yu Tian was expelled and left for other countries.
The story was not over as a new CEO was inaugurated by Yuneec.
In just one year, all top management including production director, project director, biz-development director, electronic design director, to the two marketing directors, human resources director, the European CEO, China sales director, vice operation president, investment direct, etc left the company. More than 100 staffs from Kunshan R & D team were retrenched, don't mention over 400 staffs from other departments. Even the newly established Silicon Valley R & D center undergone several contradictions with the company.
The only remaining domestic agents can no longer tolerate high repair rate due to poor quality and break up with Yuneec. You won't be surprised if you see suppliers chase payment by pulling banner or containing factory, it will be endless even if Yuneec is robbing Peter to pay Paul.
The entire Yuneec left only H520 the commercial product struggling. You won't find any clue that Yuneec is competing with DJI.
It is true that money is not the only thing for UAV Industry. I doubt Yuneec would come out a decent product after losing the founder.
The winter of domestic UAV market falls in a sudden, the winter of Yuneec has just begun.
ZeroTech — Eventually becomes No. 1 in the industry
ZeroTech won RMB50 million Angel Round of Financing in 2015, and launched Plant Protection Machine in the same year which officially entered the Agricultural UAV market. Compared to the high profile opening, it ends up pretty dismal.
After starting strategic cooperation with Qualcomm, ZeroTech released a new product equipped with Qualcomm chip - Dobby pocket drones. However, it was sued to court because of new product pricing by dealer once launched.
On top of the poor sales performance, ZeroTech was reported large number of staff retrenchment due to lack of innovative products and high expenses on hiring celebrity - Liu Yan. Yang file strong complaints against the heart-breaking retrenchment strategy how come the company is willing to pay for celebrity endorsements instead of R & D?
According to internal source, currently ZeroTech was fully incorporated by DJI. Following by the failure of against Qualcomm last year, ZeroTech Founder: CEO Yang Jianjun exists in a name only. Yang without the glory of title had nothing left that he could pawn. After the merger, ZeroTech becomes the No. 1 in the industry.
MI — The beginning is the end
The background story of MI drone is just like its product life cycle Transitory
MI Drone had brought itself a storm in the very first beginning when it was named as ‘Youth's First Choice' by the medias. However, it seems had been abandoned by MI before the youth even noticed. The Lei's poor performance at the drone press conference makes it clear that MI never focus on drones. It is similar to Dong Mingzhu who has been yelling for a mobile phone, sometimes focusing on one product will be more effective than spending hundreds of millions on advertising
Obviously, MI Drone took up such a mission during the time.
As for the future of civilian UAV, investment advisers mentioned in their report "2016-2020 Chinese UAV industry research and investment forecast report that Global UAV Annual Sales is expected to reach 4,330,000units which will hit US$25.9 billion by 2020. While China UAV annual sales will keep increasing more than 50% by selling 290,000units in the next few years
Domestic Consumer Level of UAVs is a leading industry over the world, however in the Industrial Level such as counter-terrorism, surveying and mapping, nuclear testing, etc cannot even get closer. Thus, it is necessary to develop UAVs in the precision industries as UAVs are implemented more and more widely. The key word will be ‘Technical Breakthrough.'
Sad to say that except for DJI Innovation, basically any other domestic UAV manufacturers have entered a vicious cycle of financing and even manies have not yet shine.
No denying, it could be the only way for anyone that is not yet mature. Let's look forward to the future, after all, there are so many companies focusing on products worthy of our respect. A new round of dawn will come after storm.
Media Contact
Company Name: Technologytent
Contact Person: Candy
Email:
Phone: 888-776-0944
Country: United States
Website:
MENAFN1407201700703268ID1095624754