The highest drone producers of 2021 have some similarities as the largest drone producers named in 2020 — however they aren’t all the identical.
German analytics agency Drone Business Insights analyzed greater than 500 international drone producers to search out the prime drone producers primarily based on the next three standards:
- Firm dimension
- Firm growth
- Public consideration
And maybe shocking to nobody is the highest business drone producer: DJI. However the different two — and notably No. 3 — may really shock you. Listed here are the highest three business drone producers of 2021, in response to Drone Business Insights:
- DJI
- Parrot
- XAG
DJI and Parrot each appeared within the prime three in Drone Business Insights’ 2020 model of the identical report. Final 12 months, Parrot got here in place three, and has moved to place two this 12 months. DJI stays extremely dominant in place one.
“The Chinese language producer DJI is the undisputed chief of business drone producers and ranks first despite the accusations of espionage by the U.S. navy and the U.S. Division of the Inside,” in response to an announcement from DII, referencing ongoing considerations about Chinese language-made drones. “Its possession of between 70-80% market share within the worldwide business sector speaks for itself.”
The anti-Chinese language drone sentiment referenced by DII largely kicked off in 2017 throughout the U.S. authorities after a U.S. Military memo prohibited troops from utilizing DJI drones due to cyber-security considerations. Later, the Trump administration explored an govt order that will ban U.S. federal departments and companies from shopping for or utilizing foreign-made drones.
DJI is on a tear in growing new merchandise. This fall, DJI launched three new merchandise: the Ronin 4D, the DJI Motion 2 and the DJI Mavic 3 drone.
Parrot, which makes the Anafi drone, had a comparatively powerful 12 months, however nonetheless managed to maneuver up a spot.
“Regardless of tough years with workers layoffs and continued gross sales declines, Parrot stays one of many world’s most distinguished drone producers,” in response to an announcement from DII. “Like many different producers, Parrot is utilizing the chance within the U.S. to supply their merchandise to governmental entities (just like the U.S. Military or the Defences Innovation Unit) to switch DJI merchandise.”
Amongst its 2021 achievements was partnering with Verizon and Skyward to convey the primary out-of-the-box, Verizon 4G LTE related drone answer to the U.S.
New to this 12 months’s checklist is XAG. This Chinese language drone producer started by primarily promoting client drones earlier than transitioning to primarily manufacturing agricultural drones. Although, XAG had been making crop-dusting drones as early as 2013. Lately, XAG owns greater than half of China’s agricultural drone market.
Pushed off the rostrum for the highest three drone producers of 2021 is Yuneec. The corporate at one level was a robust competitor to DJI in time period of digicam drones largely as a consequence of its Yuneec Hurricane H drone, however has since largely behind different firms together with Parrot. Different upcoming gamers within the digicam drone area which can be taking up market share from Yuneec embrace Skydio — which makes the crash-proof, Skydio 2 follow-me drone, and Autel Robotics.
The highest dual-use drone producers of 2021
DII’s report additionally seemed on the prime dual-use drone producers of 2021, which DII defines as firms that manufacture drones for business and navy markets. Producers of purely navy drones aren’t included on this class.
Listed here are the highest three dual-use drone producers of 2021:
- AeroVironment
- Insitu
- Aeronautics
These are the identical actual prime three dual-use drone producers that we noticed in 2020 — and in the identical order, too. And all three are nonetheless quickly rising. AeroVironment elevated its revenues to $395 million within the fiscal 12 months 2021, up from $367.3 million in 2020.
See DII’s compete report on the highest drone producers of 2021 right here.