Automotive
Chinese appliance maker Dreame cancels electric vehicle development
The robot vacuum manufacturer has reportedly abandoned plans for an electric SUV and a rocket-boosted hypercar about a year after entering the automotive sector.
The short version
- Chinese home appliance maker Dreame is ending all vehicle development programs about one year after initiating its automotive efforts.
- The cancelled projects include an electric SUV and a 1,876-horsepower electric hypercar previously pitched with solid rocket boosters.
- Dreame's automotive division reportedly peaked at nearly 1,000 employees prior to undergoing months of continuous layoffs.
Key facts
- Dreame is shutting down all of its electric car development programs roughly a year after launching them.[Electrek]
- The cancelled lineup included a luxury SUV and a 1,876-horsepower electric hypercar that Dreame claimed in April would use solid rocket boosters to achieve 0-60 mph in 0.9 seconds.[Electrek]
- Dreame's car department reached nearly 1,000 employees at its peak before experiencing months of ongoing staff reductions, according to CarNewsChina.[Electrek]
- A China Economy report cited internal sources claiming the vehicle effort was designed more for marketing and fundraising than actual manufacturing research and development.[Electrek]
What remains uncertain
- It remains unverified by company representatives whether the automotive division faced regulatory scrutiny alongside its R&D allocation issues.[Electrek]