Chinese robot vacuums sweep Southeast Asia

Challenges ahead

However, there are also many challenges ahead for Chinese robotics companies.

For example, while general service robots such as smart vacuum cleaners have attracted consumer interest, Baek said difficulties remain when it comes to industrial and special-purpose robots due to stricter standards in data protection and cybersecurity.

"In an era of AI and economic security, robotics is a very important yet simultaneously very sensitive area," said Baek, noting that cooperation can be pursued in less sensitive areas such as disaster response and rescue, or care robots for solving aging problems.

Liu from the Center for Embodied AI cited geopolitics and profit-sharing as the two major challenges.

"Technology is increasingly entangled with security concerns, data governance, and industrial policy," said Liu. "Even when products are commercially attractive, there can be sudden regulatory barriers, security reviews, or public-opinion issues."

Liu said Chinese companies need to design for compliance from day one to address the issue, and need verifiable mechanisms and local partners.

In terms of profit sharing, Liu said it is necessary to build a sustainable ecosystem in each market, which means that profits should also be shared with different partners to build a long-term and resilient network.

Lazada is supporting Chinese robot vacuum brands with localization through data insights, operation collaboration, and marketing, said Mosa, head of Chinese brand operations.

For example, its data tools enable brands such as Roborock to assess market positioning across different countries, including consumer preferences, price sensitivity, and competitive dynamics. The regular business reviews also help brands to customize strategies for each market.

"This region continues to present strong growth potential for Chinese robot vacuum cleaner brands, supported by expanding economies, a relatively young and digitally savvy population, and rising demand for smart home solutions," said Mosa.

To sustain growth, she said brands must differentiate through innovation and localized value, while managing pricing pressure, distribution, and rising customer expectations.

In the outline of the 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-30) approved by Chinese lawmakers on March 12, it was emphasized that China should steer the development of "new quality productive forces".

For the AI and robotics sector, Liu said it is a call to move from volume advantage to quality and standard-setting advantage, meaning more investment in core technologies, international certification, and open ecosystems will be needed for future advancement.

"If we get this right, 'new quality productive forces' in robotics will mean that when people in Asia or beyond choose a robot, they are choosing a Chinese platform not because it is the cheapest, but because it is the most capable and trustworthy," said Liu.

In the future, Liu said he expects Chinese robotics companies to become the drivers of Asia's AI and automation landscape as the scale of China's domestic market and the depth of its supply chain have enabled Chinese firms to be in a unique position to experiment and innovate.

Dreame is already working on setting up factories in Asia to expand its manufacturing network.

Choi from the Sunwah Group said he hopes to bring the best startups and technologies from China to Vietnam and engage local players as well as universities to do the technology transfer so that Vietnam can also benefit from these advanced technologies.

"Vietnam is targeting double digits in GDP growth. Aside from traditional manufacturing, AI would increase productivity exponentially so people will not be required to do some repetitive tasks," said Choi. He said the use of AI and robotics factories can promote the development of skilled workers amid Industry 4.0, or the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

kelly@chinadailyapac.com