Skydio CEO Adam Bry stated, "A few weeks ago, China announced sanctions on Skydio for selling drones to Taiwan, where our only customer today is the National Fire Agency." He recognized the impact of these sanctions on operations, particularly regarding supply chains.
Despite previously relying on a Chinese provider for batteries, Bry indicated that they have a 'substantial stock' of power cells, although it won’t be enough to prevent rationing in the near term.
A U.S. official suggested, 'We suspect Skydio was targeted by Beijing because it is likely seen as a competitor to DJI,' highlighting the underlying competitive tensions affecting U.S.-China relations in the drone market.
Reflecting on the situation, Bry emphasized the need to diversify supply chains, noting, 'If there is a silver lining, we can use this episode to accelerate our work to diversify drone supply chains away from ... China.'
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