Amazon to buy Roomba maker for $1.7 billion
Amazon will buy Roomba maker iRobot for $61 a share, or $1.7 billion in total, the companies announced Friday.
According to Reuters, "iRobot's stock rose 19% [on] Friday trading to $59.66," still less than half of its lockdown-era peak, when homebound consumers scrambled to buy Roombas.
"Customers love iRobot products — and I'm excited to work with the iRobot team to invent in ways that make customers' lives easier and more enjoyable," said Amazon hardware devices chief Dave Limp. In 2021, Limp said that "[i]n five to 10 years, we believe every home will have at least one robot that will become a core part of your everyday life."
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Vice News notes the iRobot deal is not Amazon's first foray into home robotics. Last year, "Amazon revealed the Astro—a little Alexa on wheels" that was intended to map "the interior of a user's homes, even creating heat maps of highly trafficked areas." The $1,500 Astro hasn't sold well, but robot vacuums could provide an alternative way of collecting the same information. In addition to the full line of Roomba models, Amazon is also buying iRobot's trove of data, which includes digital maps of users' homes, Vice reports.
This announcement comes just weeks after Amazon purchased healthcare provider One Medical for $3.9 billion. That acquisition came with 767,000 patients and all their healthcare data.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Grayson Quay was the weekend editor at TheWeek.com. His writing has also been published in National Review, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Modern Age, The American Conservative, The Spectator World, and other outlets. Grayson earned his M.A. from Georgetown University in 2019.
-
Why Bhutan hopes tourists will put a smile back on its face
Under The Radar The 'kingdom of happiness' is facing economic problems and unprecedented emigration
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
7 beautiful towns to visit in Switzerland during the holidays
The Week Recommends Find bliss in these charming Swiss locales that blend the traditional with the modern
By Catherine Garcia, The Week US Published
-
The Week contest: Werewolf bill
Puzzles and Quizzes
By The Week US Published
-
US charges Indian tycoon with bribery, fraud
Speed Read Indian billionaire Gautam Adani has been indicted by US prosecutors for his role in a $265 million scheme to secure solar energy deals
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Boeing machinists approve contract, end strike
Speed Read The company's largest union approved the new contract offer, ending a seven-week strike
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
US economy still strong in final preelection report
Speed Read It grew at a solid 2.8% annual rate from July through September
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Boeing machinists reject deal, continue strike
Speed Read The rejection came the same day Boeing reported a $6.2 billion quarterly loss
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Ports reopen after dockworkers halt strike
Speed Read The 36 ports that closed this week, from Maine to Texas, will start reopening today
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Britain's new retail returns nightmare
In The Spotlight Gen Z influencers and a 'poopy diaper' have shown up fault-lines in the system
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
Saks buys Neiman Marcus in $2.65B deal
Speed Read Following the merger of the two legacy retailers, the new entity will be called Saks Global
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Retail media is seeing a surge this year
The Explainer Amazon now makes more money from advertising than Coca-Cola's global revenue
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published