DJI may soon lose its stranglehold on the West’s drone market. Lawmakers in the United States may soon ban the drone giant from purchase – at least by federal agencies.
This month has not been a great one for DJI. First, due to issues with China and US President Trump, DJI faces higher tariffs and in turn, an increase in price.
Ban on DJI Drones
Now, DJI may be blacklisted entirely by federal agencies wanting to utilize drones for their work. Drones are an excellent asset on the field, whether for police, firefighting, or even search and rescue. DJI, being the biggest and most popular drone manufacturer on the planet, has a big piece of the pie when it comes to these government purchases.
The reason for this is simple – it is a potentially serious security risk. With the tensions rising between countries, it can be a problem relying heavily on tech created on foreign land. At least, that is what the US thinks.
American Security Drone Act
A majority of drone owners in the United States have the DJI brand on them. These include agencies that help in public affairs. Everyone wants a DJI drone – and everyone wants the name. The ban would cover both public and private sectors and can be a major blow in DJI’s reach. This means local agencies would have to seek drones made in companies on local shores – which limit their choices significantly.
They are calling it the American Security Drone Act of 2019 and it prevents government agencies from purchasing drones from certain companies. This however still gives European-based drone companies like Parrot an opportunity to show that they can keep up with DJI’s quality and range.
What does the future hold for DJI? Will the growing tensions between countries put an end to their dominance in the drone market?
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