
For big Chinese brands, the classic story is this: They grow huge in their home market, then find it tougher to build global brands. That’s been the case for many Chinese electronics or appliance companies, including Haier, Hisense and Midea. Even Chinese telecoms giant Huawei, which now gets about 58% of sales outside China, battled for years to go global.
But one category has veered off that path: drones. Many Chinese makers of consumer drones, including category-dominating giant DJI, have successfully built themselves as international brands from the start. Today the global market for civilian drones is 85% Chinese brands, according to IDC. Their rise has come as Chinese tech companies are spending big money on research and development and trying to change the image of what “Made in China” means. The category is still niche, and marketing and ad budgets are small, but Chinese companies are trying to be savvy about retail, content, and PR.
One Chinese startup shipped its first “selfie drone” in October and about six months later it went on sale on Apple’s global website and in the Apple Stores in five countries and regions. Called the Hover Camera Passport, it’s a lightweight camera that flies around taking photos and videos of its users; the company says it’s useful for when you don’t have an extra person to take photos, like for a couple on their honeymoon or for a family at a gathering.
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